Insufficient evidence found to ‘advise chloroquine for prevention of COVID-19’

Medical experts say there could be serious side effects of unsupervised usage of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine

The Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) in Punjab has said that there is insufficient scientific evidence to advise chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 disease at the moment.

The committee warned that there could be serious side effects or untoward reactions of unsupervised usage of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

There are growing fears that an acute shortage of essential medicines is impending in Pakistan as supplies of raw material from China and India have hit a snag amid global COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 90% of the raw material used by the local pharmaceutical industry is imported from the two neighbouring countries.

The number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has crossed 900 whereas seven have died due to the deadly pandemic.

A large number of drugs used in Pakistan for chemotherapy, neurological diseases, psychological and psychiatric disorders including depression are already running short, Ghulam Hashim Noorani, chairman of Pakistan Chemist and Drugs Association Sindh, earlier told The Express Tribune.



In addition to the medicines, surgical masks, surgical gloves, sanitisers and other medical products are also running short. Whereas, the price of large-sized thermo gun has jumped from Rs3,000 to Rs20,000.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also directed authorities to launch a crackdown against shopkeepers, who are selling overpriced sanitisers and tissue papers.