DONALD Trump claims he is taking the drug chloroquine to protect himself from being infected with Corona-19 ("The malaria drugs that President Trump is trying to adopt as Covid-19 cure", The Herald, May 22). He has shown through his presidency that he is a notorious liar, and we have no way of confirming he actually is taking this medication. However, we do know that he and his family stand to gain, as their family trust is heavily invested in this product. Presidential endorsement, if this drug is proven successful, would financially reward his family. But at what risk to the rest of us?
President Trump's irresponsible promoting of chloroquine as a way to protect ourselves from the coronavirus not only goes against the scientific facts, but could have very serious side-effects, if not prescribed by a doctor. Already one couple in the US who self-medicated on a version of this drug resulted in the husband dying within 24 hours and his wife ending up in intensive care.
Chloroquine has been prescribed for 60 years as an anti-malarial treatment. It is also one of the vital drugs used by people with lupus, a very debilitating condition. Like all drugs, it can have serious side-effects. If Mr Trump's promotion of chloroquine results in hundreds of thousands of people using it, this will have two serious results: the limited supplies will be seriously diminished and the price will inevitably shoot up. Good news for the Trump family but a nightmare for lupus sufferers, as the NHS might no longer be able to afford this drug.
This whole saga reinforces yet again for us in Britain, that there is no way that we should be pinning our hopes on a post-Brexit bonanza, leading us to massive rewards, from lucrative trade deals with a Trump-led America. If he is re-elected, he will screw us for every penny he can, to deliver his nationalist America First agenda. Our NHS must never be used as a bargaining tool for America to prosper at our expense.
Max Cruickshank, Glasgow G12.
UK obligations
CHINA’S Communists have proposed to undermine further the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Hong Kong was handed over. Many folk from the west of Scotland worked hard to help Hong Kong prosper and hoped for its continued prosperity after the Handover.
Communist China committed to maintain a system of one country, two systems for 50 years after the handover, but the latest proposals to impose a “security” law over the head of the erstwhile colony’s legislature while the world is distracted by Covid-19 are a clear breach of that principle. As a signatory to the declaration, the United Kingdom must insist that China honour its obligations. It is only fair to our auld friends in Hong Kong.
Christopher Ruane, Lanark.
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