Odisha-Born Physician Inducted In National Research Group On COVID-19

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has nominated Odisha-born physician Professor (Dr) Digambar Behera as a member of the clinical research group under the National Task Force for COVID-19.

The six-member medical group will be led by AIIMS New Delhi director Randeep Guleria.

Behera, who is a professor of pulmonary medicine at PGIMER Chandigarh, said the group will be involved in quick information gathering on COVID-19 and formulate a treatment strategy for India.

“We will discuss how the disease is behaving in different ways in different countries and what is causing death. We will then evolve the clinical practice needed for India,” Behera was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

“There will also be more focused approach towards hydroxychlorouine, which many consider as a potential drug for COVID-19,” he added.

A Padma Shri awardee, Behera was born in Cuttack district in 1953. He is an alumnus of SCB Medical College and Hospital and is known as a pioneer of lung cancer chemotherapy in the country.