MPF asks for suspension of opinion that admits prescribing Covid kit

The MPF (Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office) argued that the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 should no longer be considered by the Federal Council of Medicine, in a lawsuit brought by the Public Defender’s Office against the CFM.

The demonstration advocates the immediate suspension of opinion 4/2020, “a document in which the professional council still considers the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in patients with Covid-19, despite the WHO’s contrary position. [Organização Mundial de Saúde] and specialized Brazilian public bodies”.

The opinion of the CFM says that the doctor has medical autonomy so that, in agreement with the patient, establish which treatment will be carried out. This understanding opens a gap for ineffective drugs to continue to be prescribed.

“The MPF also defended that the CFM deliberate on the possibility of ethical violation of doctors who prescribe such substances for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19”, says the Federal Public Ministry.

In an interview with leafthe president of Conass (National Council of Health Secretaries) and Health Secretary of Maranhão, Carlos Lula, says that there are still doctors who prescribe the Covid kit in the SUS.

These are drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, with proven ineffectiveness against the disease.

“Medical autonomy is not that, it does not mean that I can prescribe what I want, that is not medical autonomy. It has limits. If I have scientific evidence that a certain drug is not effective in changing the clinical condition of the patient , the doctor cannot prescribe the medicine”, says Lula.

In the demonstration, the Federal Public Ministry states that CFM must follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization, “which are strongly against the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine against the new coronavirus, regardless of the severity of the condition and the duration of symptoms”.

“This recommendation is the result of a study involving more than 100 countries that found the ineffectiveness of these drugs in reducing the mortality of hospitalized patients with Covid-19”, says the manifestation. “In addition to the WHO, national bodies such as the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in the Unified Health System [Conitec] and the Ministry of Health’s Technology Incorporation Coordination also recommend not using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in the fight against the disease”, says the text.

Upon taking over the Ministry of Health, in March 2020, Marcelo Queiroga announced that he would promote the debate at Conitec (National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in the SUS) to end the discussion on the use of the so-called Covid kit.

However, the topic has gained the spotlight in recent days after the Ministry’s Secretary of Science and Technology, Hélio Angotti, rejected a directive that contraindicates drugs.

In the opinion of the Public Ministry, by expressly keeping open the possibility of using such drugs in the fight against Covid-19, “the CFM gives normative support to situations that put people’s lives and health at risk.”

“In addition to violating the Federal Constitution, the council disrespects the decision of the Federal Supreme Court [STF] which recommended precaution and self-restraint if there is any doubt about the real impact of a particular substance on the health of the population”, reads an excerpt from the demonstration.

In a note, the Federal Council of Medicine said that it was not officially informed about the manifestation attributed to the Public Ministry and that it remains at the disposal of the authorities to provide any clarifications that are requested.