Health Ministry Likely To Roll Back Use Of This Drug To Treat COVID-19 Patients

New Delhi: The protocol regarding the use of azithromycin combining with anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for severely infected COVID-19 patients in hospital may be revised soon.

According to a source, a new protocol of treatment is already in use at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi (AIIMS). AIIMS protocol does not prescribe azithromycin as an administered drug — as it was as per the ICMR directives. The fresh protocol for treating COVID-19 patients in the hospital will be made public soon by the Health Ministry.

“Use of azithromycin with hydroxychloroquine should be avoided as both prolong the interval between two waves in ECG also known as QTc prolongation. It causes heart problems. One can substitute doxycycline or amoxycyclin+ clavulanic acid as they are not known to cause this heart-related toxicity,” a top ICMR official was quoted as saying in a section of media.

However, AIIMS’ Head of Department of Medicine, Dr Naveet Wig admitted that anti-viral drugs are not effective for coronavirus patients.

“For moderate to severe patients, the most important aspect is oxygenation. Anti-virals are not being seen as effective in the cure of coronavirus. The treatment has evolved over time. Initially, azithromycin and HCQ was being given. Over time, with studies, we saw azithromycin can be avoided,” Wig, who also happens to be a member of the national task force on clinical research, said.