India has recently dropped blood plasma from its COVID-19 treatment protocols. Now the Remdesivir injection, considered one of the most vital medicines to treat severe cases of coronavirus, might also be not used for the treatment anymore.
However, the question here arises, is Remdesivir ineffective in treating patients against the virus?
Doctors, who once used to prescribe Remdesivir in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, have revised their opinion of it.
According to reports, in April last year, Dr Fauci said that Remdesivir sets a new standard of care for Wuhan virus patients.
A few months down the line, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted its own trial. In this trial, it found that Remdeisivir had "little or no effect" on patient mortality. It means it can do little to prevent death.
On similar lines, Ganga Ram hospital Chairperson Dr DS Rana said to a media publication said that there is no evidence of Remdesivir's effectiveness in curing COVID-19.
Also, not everyone needs Remdesivir, it is given to patients who need oxygen. Those who have developed pneumonia in their lungs, but do not need a ventilator.
It has also been noted by the doctors that Remdesivir doesn't help those who are asymptomatic. It doesn't help patients with mild symptoms. It also doesn't help patients who are very serious. It only works, if at all, for moderately ill patients but it has been observed that just like blood plasma, doctors have been prescribing it widely.
Remdesivir is being given to those who may not even need it because even doctors are under pressure. They want to try everything possible and everything available.
Meanwhile, the health experts say that the patients who were administered this injection, their blood sugar levels spiked. Owing to this, the drug is now being prescribed more judiciously.
On the other hand, ICMR has been saying that the Remdesivir was not a life-saving drug. It has a limited impact and only on few patients, hence, it had advised the medical fraternity to use it judiciously.
Moreover, there were reports of black marketing the vials across the nation. Besides, many traders started and selling fake injections to needy people at high prices. As a result, the Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, state governments have been asked to take strict action against anyone found indulged in black marketing or hoarding of antiviral drug Remdesivir.
Also Read: Mumbai Police and FDA Confiscate 2,200 Vials of Remdesivir From an Exporter
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