Remdesivir is not Ram Baan
As headlines scream shortage and photos of hapless relatives standing in long lines are on front page like the image I received from Indore below, according to Dr. Bhushan Shukla public impression is that scores of people are dying as this life saving elixir is in short supply. Nothing could be further from truth.
If remdesivir was the fabled "Sanjivani buti" we wouldn't see millions of deaths all over the world.
After initial enthusiasm in Feb/March 2020, well designed clinical trials put question mark on superiority of Remdesivir over standard care.
As even more data gathered, clinicians suspected that a small subset of patients may benefit from remdesivir. (There are enough papers to support every claim and more)
Now most sensible clinicians agree that remdesivir should be given to patients who have mild to moderate lung involvement (as seen on CT) and can not maintain adequate O2 levels on room air breathing.
And this is recommended by guidelines as well.
It is obvious that such wooley boundaries of decision making are complicating real life situations.
As soon as remdesivir was mentioned in international literature india responded by -
1. Indiscriminate use in patients who have tested positive. Have no symptoms or only mild, non respiratory symptoms.
2. Stockpiling, black marketing and profiteering.
3. Govt steps in !
All it takes to buy this drug now is -
A positive report, doctor's prescription, Aadhar card.
After a positive test, rest 2 are a piece of cake.
No doctor can refuse writing prescription of Remdesivir even if their clinical judgement is against it.
They will be beaten up.
So we have a situation where people who have no active disease or minimal disease taking remdesivir BY DEMAND.
And when India demands, it is a stampede. It is blood bath. It is misery. All around.
So,
We have a medicine that is one more small arrow in our quiver, but is touted as Ram-BaaN.
So more people are getting hurt trying to get one than lack of getting one.
This is what happens when healthcare is private, open to all pressures and general public that has abandoned ideal mentioned in constitution - "scientific temper".
That's all.
Take care,
Wear mask,
Keep distance.
Stay safe. more
If remdesivir was the fabled "Sanjivani buti" we wouldn't see millions of deaths all over the world.
After initial enthusiasm in Feb/March 2020, well designed clinical trials put question mark on superiority of Remdesivir over standard care.
As even more data gathered, clinicians suspected that a small subset of patients may benefit from remdesivir. (There are enough papers to support every claim and more)
Now most sensible clinicians agree that remdesivir should be given to patients who have mild to moderate lung involvement (as seen on CT) and can not maintain adequate O2 levels on room air breathing.
And this is recommended by guidelines as well.
It is obvious that such wooley boundaries of decision making are complicating real life situations.
As soon as remdesivir was mentioned in international literature india responded by -
1. Indiscriminate use in patients who have tested positive. Have no symptoms or only mild, non respiratory symptoms.
2. Stockpiling, black marketing and profiteering.
3. Govt steps in !
All it takes to buy this drug now is -
A positive report, doctor's prescription, Aadhar card.
After a positive test, rest 2 are a piece of cake.
No doctor can refuse writing prescription of Remdesivir even if their clinical judgement is against it.
They will be beaten up.
So we have a situation where people who have no active disease or minimal disease taking remdesivir BY DEMAND.
And when India demands, it is a stampede. It is blood bath. It is misery. All around.
So,
We have a medicine that is one more small arrow in our quiver, but is touted as Ram-BaaN.
So more people are getting hurt trying to get one than lack of getting one.
This is what happens when healthcare is private, open to all pressures and general public that has abandoned ideal mentioned in constitution - "scientific temper".
That's all.
Take care,
Wear mask,
Keep distance.
Stay safe. more
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View all 14 comments Below 14 comments
Unless the medicines are time tested, no one can say it as perfect. Improvements are going on in laboratory for all negative features. For the present, government is providing the medicines and public should accept and stay healthy. more
Apr 13
There is no treatment for covid 19 in allopathy,All antivirals ,anti allergic antibiotics even plasma therapy fail. Allopathy has only Oxygen, Bipep ventilator and they pump all All antivirals ,anti allergic ,antibiotics along with heavy doses of Steroids by virtue of which Report of CT scan at the time of admission deteriorates to worst when after 78 days hospitalization patient forcefully takes discharge . This is real incident happened to my brother in law who was admitted to Max shalimar bagh on 3rd Dec 2020 & Max Patparganj on6.1.2021 both hospital looted lacs & lacs of rupees with no improvement in his condition. Hit & trial methods are being adopted by hospitals but they fail specially in case of covid19. At last on 18 Feb 2021 oxygen saturation and bipep machines etc were installed at residence with help of private service providing company,charges also reduced to seven times as compared to hospitals. In case of Covid one should get their patient admitted for not more than 14 days and once RT PCR is negative, shift patient to home with oxygen support instead of making these hospitals rich. However there is some ray of hope in ayurvedic medicines. In view of the above please adhere to Mask,social distancing & Hand sanitization and avoid vicious circle of these hospitals . So please stay home, keep social distancing more
Apr 09
The best prevention is not to get covid. That can happen only if each one practices the required coivd protocols. Why blame others or some other issues after getting covid. No medicine can prevent not getting covid. more
Apr 09
Absolutely spot on, Mr. Vikram. I have read many reports that Remdesivir is not the ideal drug for covid 19. There are many others which are more effective. more
Apr 09
