India News | Restricted, Emergency Use of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab Likely for Treating COVID-19 Patients on Compassionate Grounds
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug and Tocilizumab, an immunomodulator, are being considered by the Union Health Ministry for 'restricted, emergency use' and on 'compassionate grounds' to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients.
New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Remdesivir, an antiviral drug and Tocilizumab, an immunomodulator, are being considered by the Union Health Ministry for 'restricted, emergency use' and on 'compassionate grounds' to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients.
This was discussed in the last meeting with the experts of the National Task Force on COVID-19 and is being finalised.
In this regard, the Indian Council of Medical Council (ICMR) is planning to revise the clinical management guidelines which are likely to be released soon.
According to the existing COVID-19 clinical management guidelines issued by the ICMR, severely ill coronavirus patients requiring ICU management are being administered Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) along with azythromycin, under close monitoring of doctors.
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A senior government official said: "Talks are on with ICMR to consider a combination of Remdesivir drug and Tocilizumab for 'restricted, emergency use and on compassionate grounds' to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients. Revised clinical management guidelines for coronavirus maybe released in the coming days."
"However, the use of azythromycin may be discontinued in the present treatment protocol where it is being used along with HCQ (anti-malarial drug). But HCQ will be used both on moderate and severe COVID-19 patients," said the official.
The World Health Organization has defined 'Compassionate Use' (CU) as a program that is intended to provide potentially life-saving experimental treatments to patients suffering from a disease for which no satisfactory authorized therapy exists and/or who cannot enter a clinical trial. For many patients, these programs represent their last hope. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)