Kuwait: Medicines Containing Anti-malarial Drug Chloroquine Withdrawn from Pharmacies
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry has decided to withdraw all medicines containing the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine from private pharmacies and limit them to hospitals and health centres according to the state news agency. According to Undersecretary of Health for Drug and Food Control Affairs the decision has been made to tighten control over the distribution of these medicines and to prevent their misuse or monopoly. Plaquenil which is the brand name for hydroxychloroquine has recently been mentioned in the media as a possible treatment for COVID-19. However, doctors have said it can cause serious side effects or there is a risk of overdose without proper medical guidance.