The use of ivermectin and hcq were started because doctors were trying to develop a protocol to help with treating Covid in 2020 and there was anecdotal evidence that it worked.
Spray and pray drug therapies work. That's how the best drugs have been invented. The fact that Doctors would rather just let a patient die then try a few known drugs was very sad. It was known in April that ventilators didn't really work. Tons of doctors on youtube blowing the whistle.