New Jersey’s lawyer general’s office and its State Board of Medical Examiners have taken an unusual step, issuing a directive to pharmacologists and doctors in the state, limiting the direction of certain medications against COVID-19.
Demand for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which are generally used to treat malaria and rheumatologic conditions, have improved dramatically, leading to losses. Reports to the State Board of Medical Examiners allege that doctors are ordering the medicines for family members, office staff members, or even themselves. There are stories of hoarding to take the pills as prophylaxis.
Valid Medical Reason
The board felt it necessary to issue the directive stating that pharmacists cannot fill a prescription for chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine unless it is for a valid medical reason. If they command either for victims who have COVID-19, those cases must prove that they have had a positive test before the pharmacologist can dispense the prescription. And such cases would be restricted to a 14-day supply.
President Donald J. Trump has announced during a news briefing and in his tweets that the order of chloroquine and Zithromax could be a “real game-changer” in the way of COVID-19 illness, soon after a frenzy of buying action across the United States began, with charges of doctors hoarding stocks.
Medications Against COVID-19 Directive
Paul R. Rodriguez, New Jersey’s acting administrator of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Attorney General’s office, said, “These rules mustn’t be broken, particularly during the public health crisis.”
The division’s order concerns now and until further notice and mandates that any medicine for chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, or any other medicine used to treat COVID-19 must have a diagnosis code and should be supported in the patient record.
Medications without this data are considered void. Additionally, all applications written should be for the practice of diseases within the prescriber’s scope of practice. As an example, dentists, podiatrists, and doctors should not significantly order medicines indicated to treat COVID-19.
The directive says that druggists should not fill medicines if they think that the prescribers are acting outside the scope of their studies. Suspected violations of this order should be reported to the State Board of Medical Examiners.
The evidence for good in treating COVID-19 with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is equivocal. Although, there is no doubt that there is a benefit to sufferers with rheumatologic conditions.
There is a substantial body of proof that is abruptly stopping these drugs in patients with rheumatologic terms poses a vital puzzle to their health. Should the medicines become scarce, because of hoarding and inappropriate use, it could cause hurt to the sufferers who rely upon them.
Rate Increase Prevention
In some areas, these drugs are already in a small number in part because of alleged hoarding by physicians and physician offices, taking it for prevention upon COVID-19.
Long-term use raises the chances of toxicity and limits the amount for proven methods. Companies have pledged to increase the amount. Luckily, there is no indication that they have developed their price of the pills, and they remain relatively inexpensive.
