Coronavirus: France and Belgium advise against use of hydroxychloroquine

Brussels said the malaria drug showed an ‘absence of benefit’ and was potentially harmful

Hydroxychloroquine could cause heart problems. Reuters

France and Belgium are advising against the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 after the World Health Organisation dropped support for it over health concerns.

Belgium’s health institute, Sciensano, said research showed an “absence of benefit” and “possibly some harmful effect”.

France overturned support for its use on Wednesday and its public health council has advised against any further trialling.

French virologist Dr Didier Raoult was one of the proponents of hydroxychloroquine but his support for the drug has been heavily criticised by other medical experts. He has refused to back down from his praise for the drug and insisted earlier this week that it saved lives.

The US President, Donald Trump, starting touting hydroxychloroquine as a treatment based on early research by Dr Raoult.

A paper published by the The Lancet health journal last week found that the drug raised the risk of heart problems. Earlier this week the WHO dropped hydroxychloroquine from a list of experimental coronavirus treatments after the report.

“Overall, based on these recent observational findings, which all consistently point to an absence of benefit related to hydroxychloroquine use, and possibly some harmful effect, it has been decided not to recommend its off-label use for Covid-19 in Belgium any more, except within ongoing clinical registered trials after careful reassessment of the study-related risk/benefit,” Sciensano said.

Belgium has reported more than 57,000 cases of Covid-19 including about 9,000 deaths. France has recorded about 28,500 deaths and 146,000 cases.