Type of Intervention: Other Announcement
Sectors Involved: Health
Intervention Categories: Research and development
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: N/A
Overview: Amid a controversy relating to the use of hydroxychloroquine on Covid-19 patients, Malaysia found a way to test the anti-malaria drug on patients of the respiratory disease without harming them
Full details here: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/17/report-malaysia-tested-039controversial039-drug-without-harm-to-covid-19-patients
Type of Justification: Scientific Evidence (e.g. academic paper, report)
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – academic
Evidence/Justification: Based on interviews recorded for the report “The Malaysian Response to Covid-19: Building Preparedness for ‘Surge Capacity’, Testing Efficiency, and Containment”, Malaysia relied on Chinese expertise which found that lower doses of the drug were effective, while monitoring closely for heart issues and acknowledging the need for high quality evidence.