By Modesto P. Sa-onoy
Yesterday I quoted Breitbart News about the White Coat Summit of American practicing physicians last July and the reasons for gathering in Washington at the steps of the US Supreme Court. To reiterate, their voices are relevant still because it was ignored and because what they said were confirmed by other doctors working in the field.
The speakers in that summit accused those in mainstream media that “continue to bring up the number of new virus ‘cases’ but that number is meaningless in the context that they try to use it. The number of virus cases does mean something when placed in juxtaposition to the number of deaths from the virus. The two numbers placed together simply point to herd immunity and/or a less-than-deadly virus. Maybe even less deadly than the seasonal flu. But of course, the media refuses to mention the death numbers, only relying on case numbers, when the death numbers were all the rage just a few weeks ago.”
“It’s clear,” the doctors said that “the media and the left have an agenda. And it’s a crying shame because people are dying as a result. Not just from the virus but due to joblessness, hopelessness, sadness, loneliness, and the list goes on. It’s time to put an end to this madness and get our country back on track.”
While the Summit spoke loudly, what they said was ignored in the same way that doctors in the Philippines voiced their opinion and were threatened with investigation. What the authorities meant was unclear, a threat with an escape clause, but the statement sent a “chilling effect” on the doctors whose only fault was to speak lest they be considered complicit with what they see as violations of their right to prescribe what they considered best for their patients, and the rights of the patients to decide whether to accept or reject their doctors’ suggestions for treatment.
On the other hand, the news last week said that the “US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, October 22, granted full approval to the anti-viral drug remdesivir as treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, after conditional authorization was given in May.”
Canada and some European nations followed suit as did the Philippines that must have also receive signals from their colleagues in the US.
After the announcement, the value of shares of Gilead, the manufacturer of remdesivir, jumped 4% at the stock market. Who do you think bought Gilead shares prior to the announcement?
Manila purchased 2,000 vials at P 6,500 each. This is cheaper compared to the price in the US at $390 per vial and a patient needs six vials for a five-day treatment. The insurance companies, however, will pay higher than the market price. A patient therefore would need at least P39,000 to be treated with redemsivir.
As the doctors cited yesterday said, HCQ is cheaper. Indeed a 200 mg pill of HCQ costs only P91, market price in India where the pill is manufactured.
There is penny in HCQ – is this the main reason that money makers and corrupt officials did not want it? The money concerns may well explain the inexplicable resistance of authorities to HCQ than the almighty scientific randomized control trials demanded by Fauci and his disciples.
The price of Remdevisir has been controversial, given that “no studies have found it improves survival.” Last week, a large study led by the World Health Organization “found the drug did not help hospitalized Covid-19 patients,” and that study did not include a placebo group and was less rigorous than previous ones that found a benefit. The FDA’s approval statement noted that, besides the NIH-led one, two other studies found the drug beneficial.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Inquirer (Aug. 28) reported the call of Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castro for the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry to regulate prices of medicines used to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus disease. With the remdesivir approval by the US FDA, his appeal takes a greater urgency.
Castro said “these medications, which include remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and ivermectin, could prevent the deterioration of COVID-19 and hasten the recovery of patients as per testimonies made by doctors.”
Is remdesivir the wonder drug all awaited? Let us discuss that on Monday.
