ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Sunday welcomed the availability of ivermectin tablets in retail outlets of Watsons Personal Care Store (Philippines) Inc.

“We applaud Watsons for improving public access to ivermectin, which has a fervent following not only in the Philippines but also across the globe,” Defensor said.

In pre-recorded remarks earlier this month, President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte acknowledged that “there has to be some truth” to the efficacy of ivermectin against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) “because several physicians here and abroad are risking their integrity to allow its use among their patients.”

In an advisory on its social media pages over the weekend, Watsons said ivermectin tablets may now be purchased at select stores by Filipinos with a doctor’s prescription.

Ivermectin 12mg and 15mg tablets are each being sold at P24.50 and P26.50, respectively, Watsons said.

A joint venture between the SM Group of Companies and Hong Kong-based A.S. Watson Group, Watsons has over 800 pharmacy and personal care outlets countrywide.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously issued a certificate of product registration to Lloyd Laboratories Inc. for the manufacture and sale of ivermectin, thus paving the way for its lawful human consumption.

Meanwhile, Mercury Drug Corp., in a separate advisory in its social media pages, said ivermectin as a prescription drug “will soon be available at all stores nationwide.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco