India To Review Covid-19 Treatment Protocol

In the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had suggested Remdesivir medicine for the treatment of positive tested patients. After seven months, WHO in its latest study reported that Remdesivir is less effective and can be avoided.

Along with Remdesivir, malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is the other drug prescribed for moderately ill Covid-19 patients. But following the findings of WHO, the Union Health ministry has decided to review the Covid-19 treatment protocol in India. In the next task force meeting headed by Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog member and Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) India is likely to reassess this protocol.

India is part of WHO’s solidarity trials and has tested four drugs (Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir, Interferon or Interferon plus Lopinavir) spread across 26 actively randomising sites with 937 participants as of October 15, 2020. And WHO said that the Solidarity trial was studying the effects of treatments on overall mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay of positive tested patients.

The data showed that none of these four drugs reduced mortality and chances for need of medical ventilation. Now it needs to be seen what will WHO suggest or will India take their independent route for treatment.

Private hospitals in India are charging a bomb from patients and this review of treatment protocol is expected to reduce the cost which will be a huge relieving thing.