ICMR warns against using hydroxychloroquine sans prescription

Raman Gangakhedkar, senior scientist at the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), on Tuesday warned against using a drug called hydroxychloroquine against coronavirus without medical prescription.

Speaking at a press conference, Gangakhedkar said, “Donot go for COVID-19 test just on suspicion or consume hydroxychloroquinemedicine without a doctor’s prescription because the medicine has its sideeffects. Observe social distancing even at home with your familymember’s.”

   

Gangakhedkar also said that although the ICMR approved togive hydroxychloroquine in some cases but it was still at ean xperimentallevel.

“The empiric use ofhydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis of SARS-Cov-2 infection is recommended onlyfor asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected orconfirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts oflaboratory-confirmed cases,” he said.

Gangakhedkar added thatthe ICMR would not recommend the medicine for children below 15 years andelderly people above 60 years of age as it had many side effects on kidney andheart.

“There issufficient access to testing so there is no need to panic. It is not justgovernment’s responsibility to keep you healthy but you will have to beresponsible for your own health. Therefore, follow all the instructions ofsocial distancing given by the government,” said the doctor.

There are now 118 government laboratories included in theICMR network for COVID19 testing. The network has capacity to test 12,000samples a day.

“On an average we have been testing at least 1,350samples per day,” Gangakhedkar informed the media.

Besides this, 22 private laboratory chains with about 15,500collection centres have been registered with the ICMR till today for conductingtests for novel coronavirus, Gangakhedkar said.

According to the mathematical model of transmission ofCOVID-19, if social distancing is followed sincerely, the threat of coronavirustransmission could be reduced by 62 to 90 per cent in a week, Gangakhedkarsaid.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Health andFamily Welfare, was also present at the press conference. He said the ministryhas asked states to make dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.

“As per the information we’ve received so far, work has started at the state level in Gujarat, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir,”- Agarwal said.

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