This Joint Statement of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NAPB) and Federation of State Medical Boards (FASB) notes that physicians, pharmacists, pharmacies and hospitals have an ethical duty to put the needs of patients first, and this includes observing strict prescribing guidelines of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.
The statement notes that there are reports that some physicians are inappropriately prescribing medications to prevent or treat COVID-19 for themselves or their family members and that some pharmacies and hospitals may be stockpiling these medications in anticipation of future demand. On March 28, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use of oral formulations of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate. The EUA allows these medications to be prescribed by doctors for hospitalized adult and adolescent patients “for whom a clinical trial is not available, or participation is not feasible.” Physicians should avoid prescribing for themselves or their family members, and pharmacies and hospitals should refrain from inappropriately stockpiling these medications.
