The head of WHO reports the renewal of hydroxychloroquine tests

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adan Gebreyesus reported the renewal of hydroxychloroquine testing in COVID-19 treatment. Speaking at a briefing in Geneva on Wednesday, he noted that there is no reason for changing the order of tests.

The head of WHO emphasized that “leading researchers” will be informed of “hydroxychloroquine teats renewal”.  

He recalled that the decision to “suspend hydroxychloroquine teats due to the concern about the safety of this drug” was made last week. The members of the test committee reviewed this issue and “said that there was no reason to modify the test protocol, according to death data” added Tedros Adan Gebreyesus.

Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malaria drug which is widely used in some countries to treat coronavirus. Several days ago, WHO suspended clinical tests of this drug as it’s not only doesn’t help in coronavirus treatment but also can be dangerous due to its side effects, according to some specialists.

By date, WHO doesn’t have any information about the drug which could reduce the mortality rate. This was announced on Wednesday at a briefing by WHO Senior Researcher Sumyah Swaminathan.

According to her, the search of treatment is on the agenda. ‘We do all the possible, conduct clinical tests to het the data as soon as it possible. And WHO encourages the continuation of such tests to find a cure that reduces mortality rate and severe course of disease.” However, “there is no evidence that there is a medicine that significantly reduces the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients”, Swaminatan said.