False: Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina said that all the trials and tests have been conducted for the new medicine named COVID-Organics and its effectiveness in reducing the coronavirus symptoms has been proven for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in Madagascar.

By: Lakshmi B
May 7 2020

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COVID-Organics is a medicine for which scientific evidence has not yet been established and which risks damaging the health of the population.Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina launched a medicine developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research with a brand name COVID-Organics and stated that the oral solution is derived from artemisia a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment along with other indigenous herbs. He said the tests have been carried out on two people suffering from COVID-19 who have now been cured by this treatment and added that it would be offered to the school children. The National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar(ANAMEM) in a statement said that the drug called COVID-Organic has no scientific evidence to prove that the virus can be cured and also data from the trail in peer-reviewed studies has not been provided, they further cautioned that the medicine might risk damaging the health of the population, in particular, that of children. The Academy of Medicine specified in their press release that according to the law, only health professionals within health facilities are authorized to distribute medicines and not administrative structures. BBC reported that the World Health Organisation in response to the launch of COVID-Organics stated that they do not suggest any self-medication as there is no proven medicine for treating coronavirus yet. Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina claiming that the drug for coronavirus has been tested and proved effective against treating coronavirus is false as the drug has still not been approved by any health officials, as well as WHO has issued a notice that no drug or vaccine has been discovered yet to treat patients affected with coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.