Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports that hydroxychloroquine is ineffective in treating COVID-19, what plans they have to review their methods for assessing scientific evidence.

There are no plans to review the methods for assessing scientific evidence following the outcome of the hydroxychloroquine arm of the RECOVERY trial.

Results from trials, even if the treatment proves ineffective, are still very useful in understanding COVID-19 and which other treatments could be more effective. This includes dexamethasone, which was also identified by the RECOVERY trial as having a significant benefit for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 who require oxygen or ventilation.