By Taurai Matunhu

Government has revealed that traditional medicines from both local and external sources will be subject to standing approval processes in terms of clinical trials.

This was said by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa while presenting the twentieth Cabinet meeting decision matrix meeting yesterday at Parliament

“With respect to the use of Hydroxychloroquine and Alpha Interferon drugs, it is clarified that the Alpha Interferon is yet to be utilised since there are currently no critical Covid-19 patients in the country. The drug is used on critical cases only and not on mild cases.

“There are no critical active cases in the country. Related to this, it is advised that traditional medicines from both local and external sources will be subject to standing approval processes in terms of clinical trials and use by the public,” she said.

This is line with her presentation of a Media Brief she held on Monday after the National Taskforce on Covid19 had met. Minister Mutsvangwa further highlighted that as a country there had been no need for medications and drugs to treat COVID19 patients thus far.

“There has been no need for medications and drugs used to treat COVID19 patients thus far, however, our medical facilities have to be ready to administer treatment to severe and critical COVID19 cases.

“This past week, drugs that were identified in the treatment of COVID19, Hydroxychloroquine, which was locally produced, and Alpha Interferon which was sourced from Cuba, were distributed to Provincial and Central Hospitals,” she said.

Speaking at the Media briefing she also highlighted that paracetamol was also being used in treating symptoms of the Covid19.

“Another primary drug which is used in treating symptoms through lowering fevers and pain, paracetamol is being locally manufactured. I am pleased to announce that the nation now has the following stocks of pharmaceuticals: 20 million paracetamol tablets, 20 000 paracetamol syrup, 755 000 Vitamin C and 420 000 chloroquine tablets,” she said.

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug usually used to treat malaria and the autoimmune disease lupus. In the past few weeks the US President Donald Trump revealed at a press briefing in the US that he had been taking Hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure from Covid19.