Doxy not part of Covid treatment, but Pb yet to upgrade 'Fateh kits'

Manav Mander

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 27

The use of antibiotics in the treatment of Covid-19 has been discontinued by the state but these are still part of the ‘Fateh kits’ provided to patients under home isolation. The guidelines have been updated but the state has failed to update the kits and continues to deliver the old packets.

Doxycycline tablets, found in the kit, were used last year to treat Covid positive patients but are now no longer part of the state’s guidelines.

In 2020, doxycycline tablet was recommended for 5 days and ivermectin for 3 days but subsequently in April this year, doxycycline was dropped and ivermectin was included under investigational therapy to be given to only mild patients for three days.

Dr Bishav Mohan, a senior cardiologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital who is also a member of Covid task force formed by the state government, said Covid-19 being a viral disease needed limited requirement of antibiotics for treatment.

“Doxycycline has been discontinued from the treatment guidelines and ivermectin should not be given to moderately ill patients and is recommended only for mild cases,” he said.

“The team which visits home isolation patients explains to them whether ivermectin is required or not,” said Dr Mohan.

However, Ludhiana resident Prashant Jain, who tested positive for Covid, said that after receiving the Fateh kit, he had to consult his family doctor about the medicines as nobody from the state health team guided him.

“My family doctor advised me against doxycycline as it was not on the list of recommended medicines and also asked me to skip ivermectin as it was not required in my case,” he said.

A senior medical officer from the district admitted that last year’s guidelines were being followed for the Fateh kits. “We cannot open the kits and check the medicines otherwise we will be accused of taking some stuff out. The department delivers sealed kits to patients,” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu could not be contacted for comments.

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