DeLauro Statement on Department of Veterans Affairs Response to Letter Demanding Answers on Veterans Being Prescribed Hydroxychloroquine

NEW HAVEN, CT — (June 18, 2020) Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie responded to her letter questioning if veterans were being prescribed hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19.

"Fifty-five days after I sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Wilkie with questions on whether veterans are still being prescribed hydroxychloroquine, I received this letter. The VA spent has spent $2 million of tax payer dollars in acquiring additional supplies of hydroxychloroquine contrary to evidence that this drug is ineffective at treating COVID-19. Just this week, the FDA withdrew its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine after its failure in continued clinical trials treating COVID-19 patients. What more will it take for the VA to stop making this drug available to our veterans, except for those that are prescribed this for on-label uses such as lupus? It is not enough for VA healthcare practitioners to have current information on potential risks of hydroxychloroquine when treating our veterans. Its use must be completely stopped in all VA facilities for COVID-19 patients. Period. I will continue to call on Secretary to do so because veterans lives are at stake, and we owe them our best."

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