Unless confined to a cave, everyone has heard of a protocol based on a chloroquine derivative used to treat patients with Covid-19. All? Nearly. According to an Ifop study for Labtoo (carried out on the Internet from April 3 to 4, 2020 with a sample of 1,016 French people aged 18 and over) that we reveal exclusively, 98% of French respondents have heard of this treatment defended by Pr Didier Raoult, director of the Institut hospitalo-universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée infection in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).
By the end of the week, the results of several international studies including Discovery, the European clinical trial responsible for evaluating four molecules against Covid-19, including the famous hydroxychloroquine, should be known.
"We have rarely seen such a high awareness rate for treatment," admits François Kraus, director of the political pole at Ifop. With confinement, the French are more in front of their screens, on the news sites which carry out exceptional audiences, there is word of mouth too. All this means that the debate on chloroquine is no longer restricted to the scientific and political sphere. "
"A South-North divide"
Indeed, the French also have an opinion on the issue and a majority of them (59%) believe that this anti-malaria "is effective" against the coronavirus. “This belief, partly disputed by Parisian experts, crystallizes a South-North divide. It is indeed around the area of Marseille, where the Institute based by Professor Raoult is based, that belief is strongest. It's almost an element of regional pride, ”says François Kraus.
He notes in detail that a quarter of those who share this hope also support the conspiracy thesis that the virus was made in a laboratory. “We also find that the extremes believe more than others in the effectiveness of treatment. But this majority cannot be reduced to that. It is not only that! This hope affects all categories of the population. From the working classes to the most qualified, "insists the director of the political pole at Ifop.
VIDEO. What is chloroquine, a miracle cure for coronavirus, according to Professor Raoult?
The dazzling success of the petition launched on Friday by the former Minister of Health Philippe Douste-Blazy in favor of the relaxation of the prescription possibilities of hydroxychloroquine will not contradict this analysis. The text, titled “Let's not waste any more time! »Comes close to 200,000 signatures this Sunday evening. "This is not a political hotpot, but a call to let hospital doctors decide to give it to the patients in their soul and conscience," insists Philippe Douste-Blazy.
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“The Discovery study, the results of which we are awaiting, is being conducted on patients with severe symptoms. However, we already know that treatment does not work in these cases, ”deplores Philippe Douste-Blazy. He lists, "Are there any perfect clinical trials?" No ! Is there a particular danger with this drug that we have known for fifty years? No ! Can we not look at what is done elsewhere? "
"We are not the only country to have learned societies and the protocol is already authorized in Italy, Portugal, Morocco, the United States," he continues. You know, in medicine, unfortunately we have a justice of the peace who is the death rate. However, in Marseille, that of people hospitalized is particularly low. From there, you have to decide. Political responsibility is to make choices and, in particular, in times of crisis. "
PODCAST. Coronavirus: who is Didier Raoult, convinced that he has the miracle cure?
