MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – The international pharmaceutical company Sandoz will donate potential effective drug for treating COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine, to Belarus, BelTA has learned.
The drug will be sent on request from the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry and will be distributed among hospitals. The company explained that the Healthcare Ministry included hydroxychloroquine in the national protocol on inpatient and outpatient treatment of pneumonia associated with COVID-19.
The drug was approved for treating malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. It is currently undergoing clinical trials involving COVID-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine showed promising results during the early trials in vitro. It is used for treating COVID-19 patients, including in Belarus in line with the national treatment protocol.
In April, the corporation that includes Sandoz, granted aid to the National Center for Medical Response of Belarus. The center received more than €92,000 to buy medicines, medical products, medical equipment, personal protective equipment, and disinfection means for Belarusian hospitals.
