ICMR says HCQ not to be used as COVID-19 cure
New Delhi/IBNS: The Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) on Saturday recommended hydroxychloroquine or HCQ as prophylaxis to prevent coronavirus infection instead of a treatment for COVID-19, said media reports.
The ICMR said the two trials conducted abroad for the medicine were not good enough and if it is needed to be used in India, it should be used as prophylaxis and not as a treatment of COVID-19.
The medical research body said it will advise the use of HCQ if it reduces the chances of COVID 19 between doctors and their contacts.
Speaking to ANI, Raman R Ganagakhedkar, Head Scientist, ICMR warned against the side effects of hyped medicine and said ICMR has never recommended its use by the general public.
He said doctors were advised to use HCQ "judiciously" and said ICMR will inform the public if its trials with the medicine yielded positive or negative results.
India has temporarily allowed the export of paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to some countries ravaged by coronavirus.
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