Govt advises cautious use of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab for Covid-19 treatment

Health and Family Welfare Ministry has advised the states that all the ‘investigational therapies’ are required to be carried out only in proper health care facilities where close monitoring of patients is possible.
 
Indian Council of Medical Research and AIIMS has strongly recommended that the focus of clinical management should continue to remain on oxygen therapy, steroids, high quality supportive care including mental health counselling for patients and families. For mild cases, which are nearly 80 per cent of the total cases, Hydroxychloroquine has been recommended.
 
Health Ministry said, the pursuit of an effective treatment for COVID-19 has also resulted in repurposing of several drugs which are not a part of the main Clinical Management Protocol but have been indicated as investigational therapies. Remdesivir, Convalescent Plasma, Tocilizumab have been put under the investigational therapies in the clinical management protocol for COVID-19.
 
Health Ministry said, these drugs are only permitted for restricted emergency use for COVID-19 and can be used in specific sub-groups of patients. ICMR and AIIMS have strictly suggested the hospitals that their indiscriminate use can cause more harm than good.
 
The states were also told that the available evidence for Remdesivir suggests that it may decrease the time for clinical improvement when used in moderate to severe cases. However, there have been no benefits in terms of reduced mortality. Similarly, studies on Tocilizumab have not shown any benefits in mortality reduction.