Doctors for judicious use of remdesivir in Himachal

Shimla, June 5

The state clinical team for Covid 19 has recommended that Remdesivir may be considered only for patients with moderate to severe disease, requiring supplemental oxygen and the drug has no medical history of kidney or liver dysfunction. The patients should receive this drug within 10 days of the onset of the Covid disease.

A spokesperson for the Health Department said that the drug was not to be used for patients who are not on oxygen support or are in home settings.

He further said that a Remdesivir audit committee should be established in every DCHC and DCH to take a collective decision on a case-to-case basis. He urged the public not to attempt to procure or administer Remdesivir at home.

As far as the availability of Remdesivir is concerned, he said a total of 8,970 vials of Remdesivir were available currently in various facilities in the state. The Health Department issues advisory for judicious use of steroids during Covid-19 pandemic

He further warned people against the indiscriminate use of steroids without consulting competent medical personnel. “It may result into delayed clearance of the virus from the body and adverse outcomes like suppression of the body immunity and precipitation of diabetes mellitus and uncontrolled blood sugar level,” he said. — TNS