Turkey claims success treating coronavirus with broad use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine touted by President Trump, CBS News reports

Almost about two months since anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was first reported by renowned French Professor Didier Raoult, the drug has become the number one controversial drug in America since President Trump touted the drug on social media back in March. Public health officials repeatedly warned the drug is dangerous and unsafe for use due to lack of proven and random clinical trial to back up the claims. Some media outlets here in the U.S.  went as far as calling the drug “unproven.”

Now, for the first time, a major news outlet here in the United States is covering hydroxychloroquine in a positive light. Today, CBS News shared hydroxychloroquine success story in Turkey. Citing citing Turkish government, CBS News said, “Turkey’s Ministry of Health says the relatively low death toll is thanks to treatment protocols in the country, which involve two existing drugs — the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine touted by President Trump, and Japanese antiviral favipiravir.”

“Doctors prescribe hydroxychloroquine to everyone who is tested positive for coronavirus” Dr. Sema Turan, a member of the Turkish government’s coronavirus advisory board, told CBS News. Hospitalized patients may be given favipiravir as well if they encounter breathing problems, she said.

While the debate ranges on, many doctors and patients have shared anecdotal success stories of the drug. Many claimed the drug saved their lives.

So far, Turkey still has the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, with more than 117,000 confirmed infections. More than 3,000 people have died. But the government claims to have a lower fatality rate than the global average estimated by the World Health Organization at over 3%.