HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE DISCONTINUED FROM CLINICAL TRIAL BY WHO – HERE IS 'WHY?'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) ended clinical trials for the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine for those with COVID-19.

On Saturday WHO said that it has accepted the recommendation which was put forth to discontinue the testing of hydroxychloroquine and ritonavir, a drug combination used to treat AIDS. WHO confirmed that these drugs “produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised COVID-19 patients when compared to the standard of care.”

No solid evidence for the drug reducing the mortality rate of those hospitalised has surfaced. The organisation also confirmed that this decision will not affect those who are not hospitalised or are receiving the drugs before potential exposure to the virus or shortly after the exposure to the virus.