Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete on Tuesday said that he had asked the National Medicines Agency (ANM) for a point of view on the side effects of acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, after US President Donald Trump advised pregnant women not to take the drug because it is „probably associated with a very high risk of autism”.

„I have seen the president’s statement; I will not comment on his statement. I have asked the National Medicines Agency for an informed point of view, the recent studies in force and I am sure that I will make a statement and a give a firm answer to this situation. Now I don’t have a clear answer,” Rogobete said at the Palace of Parliament.

He added that so far, specialists had not warned him about the acetamiophen matter.

„I believe that scientific results and specialised studies can demonstrate whether or not there is a link between paracetamol and a series of side effects. As we well know, all drugs also have side effects, both in the short and long term, but further scientific studies are needed to be able to show that, prove it,” he said.

Asked what he recommends to people after Donald Trump’s statements without evidence, Rogobete said: „We don’t know if they are without evidence or not. That is why I asked the National Medicines Agency to gather the latest studies in the field. If there are studies that prove that and the studies no longer recommend the consumption of paracetamol, it is most likely that the manufacturer will withdraw it from the market, we will not have to make a decision. We are waiting for the ANM’s analysis and then we can discuss fully cognizant of the facts,” concluded Rogobete.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump strongly advised pregnant women not to take paracetamol, sold as Tylenol in the US, saying that it is probably associated with a very high risk of autism, which specialists disagree, according to the AFP news agency.

„Don’t take it!” the Republican said at a White House press conference dedicated to autism. AGERPRES