BAKER -NOTABLE
FYI Ohio legislation introduced to prevent future overreach to ban HCQ
http://ohiohouse.gov/diane-v-grendell/press/grendell-announces-legislation-to-halt-state-of-ohio-board-of-pharmacys-ban-of-hydroxychloroquine
State Rep. Diane Grendell (R-Chesterland) announces she will introduce legislation to stop the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s decision to halt the use of hydroxychloroquine in order to treat COVID-19. The original memo from the Board stated the rule would go into effect on Thursday, July 30.
“I was shocked to hear of the Ohio Pharmacy Board's decision banning the dispensing of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19,” said Grendell “To my knowledge, an action such as this has never been taken before on a medication.”
Grendell’s legislation will prohibit the Ohio Pharmaceutical Board from preventing the prescription and use of approved medications or pharmaceuticals, including hydroxychloroquine, for off-label treatment purposes and use when prescribed by a licensed physician or other medical personnel authorized by law to prescribe for such off label purposes and use.
While the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has rescinded their decision, Grendell believes it’s important to move forward with the decision to prevent future overreach as Stephen Hann, commissioner of the Food and Drug Association, was quoted stating that the use of hydroxychloroquine was "between a patient and their doctor."
“This appears to be an overreach by the Ohio Pharmacy Board,” said Grendell. “It should be up to the patient and their doctors to decide what Ohioans should and need to be prescribed in order to treat any illness.”
Hydroxychloroquine is an arthritis drug that is also used to prevent malaria. However, during the pandemic, individuals throughout the U.S. have used it to prevent worsening symptoms caused by COVID-19.