Health ministry has forwarded a list of 55 drugs for ICU management of Covid-19 patients and a list of 96 drugs for general availability and treatment of various other health conditions. The list was prepared following a detailed exercise undertaken by the Director General Health Services.
The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare (MoHF&W) has written to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) conveying that its member should ensure availability of critical drugs for management of COVID-19 and other essential drugs during these critical conditions.
The combination of hydorxychloroquine and azithromycin has been prescribed for severe patients requiring ICU management. The letter also stated that other drugs are also currently under various stages of trials, but have so far not been recommended for use in India.
“In light of this current pandemic, it is absolutely essential that sufficient market availability of these drugs, along with other essential drugs is ensured by your members. These steps will go a long way in the effective clinical management of the pandemic. I would request to you to kindly convey this message to your members, so that adequate availability of the essential medicines can be ensured during this challenging time of COVID-19,” the letter stated.
Jagannath Sakharam Shinde, President, AIOCD said that, “Still all of us have to work hard for some more time and carefully dispense drugs like hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin which are mandated to be sold on prescriptions only. Hope you shall circulate this message to all your chemists and stockiest in your states. Social media may be used for immediate delivery. Our preparedness is must in this demanding situation as carers of needy patients are looking to us for instant life savings medicines,”.
The letter also stated that “in accordance with the Clinical Management Guidelines for COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine has been recommended as prophylaxis for certain categories like healthcare workers and household contacts of positive cases.”
