TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on – May 29, 2020, 11: 30 IST
01/10WHO suspends the usage of HCQ as a treatment for COVID-19
With coronavirus cases rising, the hunt for an effective coronavirus treatment drug is still on. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also started a multi-country solidarity trial (which India is a part of as well) to test the same.
02/10Does hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) work for coronavirus?
Of all treatment options being approached right now, Hydroxychloroquine, being hailed as the frontrunner, is widely used in coronavirus affected countries. India, which is one of the lead producers of the drug is exporting the drug worldwide. Even as it emerges as one of the most easily available drugs, globally, there’s a huge debate centering around the workability and efficacy of Hydrochloroquine for treatment of novel coronavirus.
03/10What is happening right now?
In the most recent development surrounding the usage of the drug in the fight against COVID-19, WHO has temporarily suspended the usage of HCQ in the trial, which involves 96,032 SARS-CoV-2 confirmed patients in 671 hospitals across six continents after discrepancies were found in how the drug works as a prophylactic medicine.
04/10India continues the usage
Contrary to WHO’s findings, India is continuing to use hydroxychloroquine as one of its treatment methods for COVID-19 cases in the country. A representative from the Indian Council of Medical Research backed up the usage, saying that they have seen enough evidence since years and mentioned that they had no plans to discontinue it. In a statement, Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR said that they will continue to use HCQ along with azithromycin, an antibiotic to treat the viral strain for now:
“There are a lot of drugs being repurposed for treatment or prophylaxis. Chloroquine is in use for 100 years. HCQ is even safer…”
Another member from the NITI Aayog Health panel, praising the use of HCQ said :
“We have used chloroquine for years. HCQ is even safer because it is used continuously in rheumatoid arthritis. It is known to increase the pH of the cell and make it alkaline. Along with zinc, it blocks the entry of the virus into the cell. Admittedly this is a new virus whose behaviour we are still learning about, but it (HCQ) is known to work in other coronaviruses.”
05/10The controversy around HCQ usage
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was seen as one of the most promising drugs ever since the cases started to spike up. An anti-malaria drug, HCQ is an anti-viral oral drug, which has been used for years to treat autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis as well.
Ever since early studies praised its benefits, HCQ, an easily available drug soon started trending. Just recently, US President Donald Trump admitted to having HCQ as a