India will continue using HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19 says, Chief of Emergency Medicine

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr Tamorish Kole said that India will continue using hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of the coronavirus patients. Earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) put a halt on the hydroxychloroquine trial, citing the drug is ineffective in controlling the coronavirus deaths.

New Delhi:Two days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) again put a halt on the hydroxychloroquine trial, India decided to go ahead with the anti-malaria drugs to treat mild Covid-19 patients.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently issued clinical management guidelines by clearly mentioning the use of HCQ for the treatment of the deadly virus, which is reportedly originated from China's Wuhan province.

"We will keep using HCQ to treat mild Covid-19 patients and frontline health workers," a government official said.

The WHO on Tuesday halted a clinical trial of HCQ stating that the drug is ineffective in controlling the coronavirus deaths. The WHO, on the other hand, opted for Dexamethasone, which has shown effective result in reducing the mortality rate of COVID patients.

"WHO might take the decision on the basis of some study...but as far as India is concerned we will be using HCQ for treating Covid-19 patients," said Dr Tamorish Kole, chief of emergency medicine at Medeor Hospital over a telephonic interview with ETV Bharat.

He said that ICMR in the latest clinical management guidelines preferred HCQ. "Another trial of HCQ like it's efficacy is still on in different countries," said Dr Kole.

Referring to Dexamethasone, Dr Kole said that there was a study at Oxford University on the drugs "but we need to go into the details of the study to understand the efficiency of Dexamethasone."

"It's not a new drug. It's a repurposed drug and in India we already used it. It's a very cheap and easily available drug," added Dr Kole.

Countries across the globe are experimenting with different drugs against COVID-19. Ramdesivir was also a preferable drug.

Dr Kole said that by July-end result of all clinical trials of the drugs will come and it will take another 12 months (approx) to prepare the vaccine.

On an earlier occasion, WHO halted the clinical trial of HCQ based on a study, but subsequently resumes its trail.

It may be mentioned here that, India's apex medical research institute (ICMR) in clinical management guidelines issued last week has supported the use of Remdesivir, convalescent plasma, Tocilizumab and Hydroxy-chloroquine on an emergency basis with certain conditions.

The ICMR suggested that Remdisivir, Convelcent plasma and Tocilizumab could be used in patients with moderate disease, whereas Hydroxy-chloroquine should be used as early in the disease course as possible to achieve any meaningful effects. "HCQ should be avoided in patients with severe disease," the ICMR said.