Centre Issues Revised Medicare For Frontline COVID-19 Workers

New Delhi: Revising its medicare guidelines for asymptomatic frontline workers, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recommended use of hydroxychloroquine instead of chemoprophylaxis.

The Central recommendation is meant for surveillance workers in containment zones and paramilitary/police personnel involved in COVID19-related activities.

The earlier advisory issued on April 23 recommended placing the high-risk population including  asymptomatic healthcare workers engaged in the care of suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases under chemoprophylaxis.

The revised advisory was issued after an investigation by three Central government hospitals in New Delhi indicated that among healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 care, those on HCQ prophylaxis were less likely to develop infection, compared to those who were not on it. The benefit was less in healthcare workers looking after general patients.