To date, seven studies have been published regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine in humans. All studies have in common that there is no clear evidence of a positive effect or recommendation for use. France, Brazil, and Sweden stopped experiments with this drug due to frequent side effects, so we are surprised that the state institutions of BiH so hastily signed the contract on this donation and that the media published the information that it is "one of the most effective drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.“. Louisville (USA) – 2.5.2020. On the occasion of the information published in the media of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the company SANDOZ (Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., a member of the Sandoz company), signed a donation agreement by which Sandoz will donate 22,800 tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is in the media presented as "one of the most effective drugs in the treatment of COVID-19," respected experts in the field of epidemiology and members of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) hereby deny the above information as incomplete and partially correct. According to the official information on April 25, 2020, published by the U.S., there is no FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved drug for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19, including hydroxychloroquine sulfate. At the same time, experts emphasize that this drug not only has no proven beneficial effect but can be very dangerous. Hydroxychloroquine can be used in clinical trials with emphasis on possible side effects and with the clear consent of the patient or family. Hydroxychloroquine has been used for years to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus. The idea that the drug is potentially useful for the treatment of COVID-19 is based on laboratory experiments that have shown such a possibility. However, it still cannot be proven that this drug has a similar effect in the human body for the treatment of COVID-19. For the same reasons, to date, no drug can be officially used for the treatment of COVID-19 except as an experimental one before passing the rigorous study stages to people. From March 16 to April 21, 2020, a total of seven studies were published regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine in humans. Without going into details, all studies have in common that there is no clear evidence of a positive effect or recommendation for use. On the contrary, some of these studies reported higher mortality associated with the use of this drug. France, Brazil, and Sweden stopped experiments with this drug due to frequent side effects, so we are surprised that the state institutions of BiH so hastily signed the contract on this donation and that the media published the information that it is "one of the most effective drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.“. This medicine can cause several side effects. First of all, cardiac arrhythmias are relatively common, especially in very sick patients. Currently, doctors in the USA use this drug only on patients in clinical trials, but with much less enthusiasm than at the beginning of the pandemic. This is the current position of respectable world health organizations dealing with this pressing issue. Knowledge about the disease is dynamic and just beginning because the disease is new. Of course, future experimental research may refute these findings. This position of the members of the BHAAAS Medical Sciences Section is based on official recommendations:
Sincerely, Dr. Mahira Tanović, President of BHAAAS, Dr. Adnan Begović, Pulmonary and Intensive Care Specialist from San Diego Clinic, Members of the Medical Sciences Section of BHAAAS
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