The health ministry has withdrawn a criminal case against a doctor for possessing and dispensing ivermectin.
Dr Che Amir Farid Che Isahak said the ministry’s decision to drop the case yesterday followed a ruling made by the Federal Court four months ago on a related matter.
In March, the apex court unanimously decided to uphold doctors’ right to give patients ivermectin.
Health ministry officials had raided Che Amir’s clinic in Ampang in 2021 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The raid followed reports that two patients, unconnected to Che Amir, had self-prescribed ivermectin and allegedly suffered acute poisoning and breathing difficulties.
Officials seized the antiparasitic drug found in the clinic, arguing that it was not a registered product. They also claimed that the doctor was not legally permitted to sell or dispense the drug.
Che Amir was subsequently charged in the magistrates’ court with selling and dispensing the drug.
When contacted, Che Amir said although the case resulted from the use of ivermectin for Covid-19 patients, the court’s decision allows doctors who are proponents of the drug to use it for the prevention or treatment of any other types of diseases or conditions.
“And we can now safely prescribe and dispense ivermectin without fear of being raided anymore.”
He also said more diseases had been found to be amenable to treatment with ivermectin, including cancer.
However, he said while there had been many preclinical studies, no clinical study had been conducted.
“Ivermectin is emerging as a treatment for many types of cancer.
“For now there are only case reports and testimonies on the treatment of cancer with ivermectin. I hope that clinical trials will be conducted soon.”
