RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Defense reported that there are 1.8 million chloroquine tablets in stock at the Army Laboratory. The figure represents around 18 times the drug’s annual production in previous years. Chloroquine is commonly used to fight malaria and lupus.
Fernando Azevedo e Silva, the Minister of Defense, said there are no plans to produce more of this medicine.
“The chemical laboratory produces chloroquine, not because of Covid-19. It has been producing it because of malaria for a long time,” Azevedo e Silva said.
The Prosecutor’s Office, acting before the Federal Audit Court (TCU), called for an investigation into the R$1.5 million (US$273,300) spent by the Ministry of Defense to increase the drug’s production.
The Deputy Prosecutor General, Lucas Furtado, called for President Jair Bolsonaro’s liability for deciding to increase the drug’s production, with no scientific evidence proving its effectiveness in treating Covid-19. The advocacy for the use of the drug in patients with coronavirus has been criticized by scientists in Brazil and around the world.
The World Health Organization advocates the use of the drug for Covid-19 only in tests and trials.
The Minister considered the potential investigation “unnecessary speculation” and said that the purchase of chloroquine powder was made in compliance with legal requirements. Per the Ministry, the high cost is due to the increase in the price of supplies caused by the global pandemic.
Source: Extra