MoHFW allows low cost drug Dexamethasone as an alternative of Methylprednisolone for treating COVID-19 patients
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) today, i.e., Saturday, June 27, 2020 allowed the use of the low-cost steroid drug – Dexamethasone, as an alternative to Methylprednisolone to treat Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with moderate and severe symptoms.
The MoHFW has shared a revised version of “Clinical Management Protocol: COVID-19”, a document published for use by health professionals as a reference, which allows the use of Dexamethasone.
The move comes after the World Health Organization called for a rapid increase in production of Dexamethasone, following British clinical trials in the United Kingdome (U.K.), which found it had life-saving potential for COVID-19 patients.
Posting the revised Clinical Management Protocol: COVID-19, the official twitter handle of MoHFW tweeted, “#IndiaFightsCOVID19 Revised clinical management protocol for #Covid19 issued. Dexamethasone has also been allowed as an alternative to Methylprednisolone.”
As per the revised Clinical Management Protocol: COVID-19, moderate cases of COVId-19 should be given 0.1 to 0.2 mg / per kg of Dexamethasone for 3 days, preferably within 48 hours of admission or if oxygen requirement is increasing and if inflammatory markers are increased. The duration of administration should be reviewed as per clinical response. The patients having respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation, both non-invasive and invasive, must be given 0.2 to 0.4 mg / kg of Dexamethasone per day for 5-7 days in two divided doses.
The Health Secretary – Ms. Preeti Sudan has forwarded the updated protocol to all States / U.T.s to make necessary arrangements for availability and use of the updated protocol and drug Dexamethasone at the institutional level also. The guidance document has also been made available online on the website of the MOHFW at:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ClinicalManagementProtocolforCOVID19dated27062020.pdf
Meanwhile, with another highest single day spike of 18, 552 fresh cases and 384 casualties, the total number of cases in India have reached 5,08,953 and there have been 15, 685 casualties. Maharashtra remains the worst hit State, reporting 5,024 fresh cases and 175 casualties. The total cases in the State are in tune of 1,52,765 and there have been 7,106 casualties. Delhi, the second most affected place has a total of 77,240 cases and 2,492 casualties. In the past 24 hours, Delhi reported 3,460 fresh cases and 63 casualties. Tamil Nadu witnessed 3,645 fresh cases and 46 casualties. There are 74,6623 cases and 957 casualties there.
In other developments, the Chief Minister of Goa – Pramod Sawant has said community transmission has begun as COVID-19 are coming from all parts of the State. There are 1,039 cases in Goa. The Assam government has re-imposed a two-week complete lockdown in Guwahati and weekend lockdown in all urban areas of the State from June 28, 2020 for 14 days. The night curfew has been relaxed in West Bengal and according to the new rules, restrictions will be imposed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Besides, the Delhi schools will remain closed till July 31, 2020.
