France: Didier Raoult, the infectiologist who advocates chloroquine to treat coronavirus

Professor Didier Raoult advocates the use of chloroquine to treat patients with Covid-19 but some doctors accuse him of toasting the stages in terms of tests. GERARD JULIEN / AFP

Text by: Pierre Olivier Follow

For several weeks now, Professor Didier Raoult has been advocating the use of chloroquine to treat patients with Covid-19. His proof is the conclusive tests he has carried out on several patients. If he seems to have the attention of the Ministry of Health, some doctors accuse him of toasting the stages in terms of tests and of raising false hopes. So who is this controversial professor really?

Publicity

Read more

Didier Raoult is one of the world's leading experts in infectious and tropical diseases. He is also one of the eleven members of the scientific council which is currently directing the government to the Covid-19 epidemic.

The 68-year-old infectiologist with long white hair and shaggy beard is sometimes accused on social networks of being a charlatan or in want of recognition. However, the one who heads the Marseille university hospital institute is not his first try.

Towards a new consecration ?

With his teams, he identified dozens of new pathogenic bacteria, two of which bear his name today. According to him, in the absence of any treatment available against the coronavirus, the slightest positive track must arouse the interest of doctors. This is how he justifies his infatuation with chloroquine in the treatment of Covid-19.

For now, its clinical study is limited to 24 patients, too few for a drug to be authorized. But the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, has already asked that the infectiologist's protocol be reproduced on a larger scale. The results are expected within 15 days and perhaps with them, a new consecration for Professor Didier Raoult.

►Read: Coronavirus: rush on screening tests in Marseille

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Subscribe

Download the app

google-play-badge_FR

  • France
  • Coronavirus
  • Health and Medicine

On the same subject

The Health Council

Do we know the duration of the coronavirus pandemic?

The Health Council

Who are the most vulnerable to Covid-19?

Coronavirus info

Coronavirus: towards a massive screening of Covid-19 in France?