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State Board Reverses Decision On Hydroxychloroquine

WCBE 90.5FM | By Ohio Public Radio

Published July 31, 2020 at 4:53 AM EDT

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has reversed it's decsion to ban the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19, after governor Mike DeWine called for a more thorough invetigation of the drug touted by his fellow Republican, President Trump.

Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

DeWine says Ohio's pharmacy board should have held a full hearing before ruling that hydroxychloroquine cannot be used to treat the coronavirus.

DeWine: "I believe that their process at arriving at this original decision was fundamentally flawed."

DeWine says he doesn't have a position on the drug, but says the pharmacy and medical boards should examine the issue closer and allow for people to provide input.

An FDA official has said using the drug should be between a doctor and their patient. It’s a reversal from June, when the FDA revoked permission to use the drug for COVID-19 treatment.

Studies are still being conducted to determine the drug's effectiveness in fighting COVID-19 and the possible side effects.

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