Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and AYUSH Minister ShripadYessoNaik on Thursday jointly launched three Central AYUSH ministry-based studies related to COVID-19.
The AYUSH-based studies include Study on Ayurveda interventionsas prophylaxis and as an add on to standard care to COVID-19, Population-basedinterventional studies on the impact of AYUSH-based prophylactic interventions,and AYUSH Sanjivani App-based study for impact assessment of acceptance andusage of AYUSH advisories in prevention of COVID-19.
The Interdisciplinary Ayush R&D Task Force hasformulated and designed clinical research protocols for prophylactic studiesand add-on interventions in COVID-19 positive cases through thorough review andconsultative process of experts of high repute from different organisationsacross the country for studying four different interventions viz. Ashwagandha,Yashtimadhu, Guduchi and Pippali and a poly herbal formulation (AYUSH-64).
The study will draw a comparison between the impact ofHydroxychloroquine and Ashwagandha for the prophylaxes against SARS-COV-2 inthe health care providers with increased risk during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It will also include effectiveness of Ayurveda Formulationas an adjunct to ‘Standard of Care’ for the treatment of Mild to ModerateCOVID-19. A Randomized, Open Label, Parallel Efficacy, Active Control,Multi-Centre Exploratory Drug Trial will take place.
The population based interventional studies on impact ofAYUSH based prophylactic interventions will Abe carried out through fourResearch Councils under Ministry of AYUSH and National Institutes in 25 statesacross the country and several State Governments covering approximately 5 lakhspopulation.
The core objectives consist of, assessment of preventivepotential of AYUSH interventions for COVID-19 and also to assess theimprovement in Quality of Life in high risk population.
The Health Minister at the video conference hailed theefforts of Naik for containing the disease well in Goa.
“You made Goa corona free,” said the minister. Healso added “we should not hesitate using our traditional medicines.Studies show that even China has used its traditional medicines and treatmentmethods on COVID-19 patients there”.Harsh Vardhan assured the officials that theoutcome of the study would certainly pave a new horizon in understanding thepreventive potential of AYUSH interventions during pandemics like COVID-19through scientific evidence.