Texas Hospital System Bans Use of Ivermectin for COVID-19

A Hospital system in Texas imposed new restrictions on the use of ivermectin, dubbed the “wonder drug,” for the treatment of COVID-19.

St. Luke’s Health will only allow its infectious disease physicians to use the drug for preventive treatment of strongyloidiasis, a roundworm infection, per Just the News.

A directive suggests that non-infectious disease physicians had been prescribing ivermectin for patients sick with COVID-19.

Indeed, the FDA-approved drug is used “for the treatment of many parasitic infections” and has “in vitro activity against some viruses, including SARS-CoV-2,” but it “has no therapeutic utility,” the St. Luke’s memo says.

“Our commitment to provide the best care for our patients is rooted in data-driven, clinically-proven treatment protocols,” the hospital said in a statement. “Clinical trials are currently underway to determine if this medication could be authorized and approved for COVID-19 patients, but until that time, we are not using this medication as part of our COVID-19 treatment protocols.”