Covid-19: US-based NRI doc moves SC against use of HCQ, Azithromycin

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, April 16

A US-based NRI doctor on Thursday moved the Supreme Court against use of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Azithromycin (AZM) to treat serious COVID19 cases in India.

Petitioner Dr Kunal Saha claimed that the use of HCQ and AZM for COVID19 treatment was based primarily on “anecdotal evidence” and not on “direct scientific data”.

The use of these drugs for treatment of COVID-19 was “potentially-life threatening” contended Saha who is president, People for Better Treatment.

He urged the top court to direct the Ministry of Health to make necessary changes in the present guidelines for treatment of seriously ill COVID-19 patients, which is based on the use of a combination of HCQ and AZM.

Informed consent be taken from patients being given HCQ and AZM treatment, the petitioner submitted.

He sought to draw the court’s attention to an “extraordinary” joint bulletin issued by American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) in the US on April 8 which asked doctors to be cautious during the use of HCQ and AZM in COVID-19, especially for patients with existing cardiac conditions since these drugs have potential to trigger abnormal heartbeat, heart failure and even death.

Saha said another multi-national study based on direct analysis of more than three lakh patients in the US and Europe underscored the potential but serious dangers and the urgent need to take precautionary measures for any “off-label” use of HCQ and AZM on COVID-19 patients.

He submitted that he had written to the Health Ministry about the serious and potentially life-threatening dangers involved in the use of HCQ and AZM on COVID-19 patients but received no response.

He said he had suggested six specific therapeutic measures that doctors should adopt to prevent catastrophic medical outcome while treating a serious COVID-19 patients with HCQ and AZM.