MANAMA : The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the first in the world to administer hydroxychloroquine to treat active Covid-19 cases, says the country's Supreme Council of Health chairman Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohamed Abdullah Al Khalifa.

The Bahrain News Agency (BNA) quoted Dr Shaikh Mohamed, who is also the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 head, as revealing the information on Tuesday (March 24).

According to the news report, the drug is reported to have had a profound impact when used to treat the symptoms exhibited by active Covid-19 cases.

Bahrain first used the drug on Feb 26, following the registration of its first Covid-19 case on Feb 24.

Dr Shaikh Mohamed said the compound was administered in line with treatment regimens that have seen success in China and South Korea.

Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of drugs used to prevent and treat malaria, discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

 - Bernama