Categories: Health

Health Ministry’s new Covid-19 treatment plan drops Favipiravir, cuts Remdesivir to size

<p>
The Health Ministry has dropped medicines such as favipiravir and doxycycline from its list of treatment for Covid-19 and recommended only limited use of the controversial drug Remdesivir which had become a craze at one point to treat coronavirus patients.</p>
<p>
"Physicians are advised to exercise extreme caution in using remdesivir as this is only an experimental drug with potential to harm," the new evidence-based treatment plan on the directorate general of health (DGHS) states.</p>
<p>
For mild Covid-19 cases only simple medicines to reduce fever and cough have been recommended with self-monitoring for fever, breathlessness and oxygen saturation (SpO2). In asymptomatic cases, the revised guidelines have said no medication is required.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/latest-news/india-gets-l-favipiravir-l-remdesivir-in-foreign-aid-90489.html">India gets 12L Favipiravir, 6.9L Remdesivir in foreign aid</a></p>
<p>
Antibiotics such as azithromycin and doxycycline which were rampantly being used until now have not been mentioned in the new treatment plan.</p>
<p>
Similarly, zinc supplements and vitamins A, B, C and D do not figure on the list. The earlier treatment protocol had included a 15 to 30 days course of zinc supplements vitamin C and D.</p>
<p>
<strong>Steroids</strong></p>
<p>
The guidelines make it clear that medicines such as steroids should be used only for moderate or severe Covid-19 patients who need hospitalisation.</p>
<p>
"Steroids are indicated in only hospitalized moderately severe and critically ill Covid-19 cases. Steroids should be used at the right time, in the  right dose and for the right duration. Self-medication of steroids must be avoided," the health ministry said.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/latest-news/portugal-donates-units-of-remdesivir-to-india-89257.html">Portugal donates 5,500 units of Remdesivir to India</a></p>
<p>
<strong>Tocilizumab</strong></p>
<p>
About the use of Tocilizumab, the revised guidelines said, "Tocilizumab is an immunosuppressant drug and it has been approved by DCG (I) for use as an off- abel drug only in severe and critically ill patients of Covid-19."</p>
<p>
Anticoagulants are drugs that reduce blood clotting but are to be given only in moderate to severe cases of Covid-19 and only on the prescription of a doctor, the guidelines state.</p>
<p>
However, there seems to some confusion about the new directives at the moment as the Indian Council for Medical Research, the country's leading health agency in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, has not yet approved them.</p>
<p>
The ministry's latest guidelines also emphasize the need for Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like using masks, hand sanitisers and maintaining social distancing.The health ministry also advised people to seek teleconsultations on experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

India now has 111 national waterways, up from 5 under UPA: Union Minister Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said on Monday that the number…

9 hours ago

PoJK residents grapple with decades of neglected roads, broken promises

The inhabitants of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) have been enduring years of neglect as…

9 hours ago

DRDO to showcase cutting-edge defence tech at Paris Air show 2025, highlighting India’s aerospace advancements

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to make a significant impact at…

9 hours ago

Cyprus President, PM Modi view mountains near Nicosia which are under Turkish occupation

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday viewed the mountains near…

11 hours ago

“Discussed expanding bilateral relations and synergy in various areas”: Cyprus President after delegation-level talks with PM Modi

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed expanding bilateral ties…

13 hours ago

India, Cyprus to develop roadmap to provide strategic direction to bilateral cooperation, strengthen defence cooperation: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India and Cyprus will develop a strong…

13 hours ago