Modi urges top doctors to dispel rumours about Covid treatment

Modi urges top doctors to dispel rumours about Covid treatment

Meets Pharma Industry Leaders, Lauds Their Role In Covid Battle

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:20.04.2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the country’s leading doctors to educate people against rumours on Covid-19 treatment and prevention.

“In these difficult times, it is very important that people do not become a victim of panic. Along with proper treatment, emphasis must also be on counselling of patients admitted in hospitals,” the PM said while interacting with doctors via video conferencing on the Covid-19 issue and vaccination. Modi also encouraged doctors to use tele-medicine for treatment of other diseases, in case there was no emergency.

Prominent doctors including Devi Shetty, Shashank Joshi, Naresh Trehan, Sushila Kataria and IMA president J A Jayalal, along with several others, attended the interaction with the PM.

The PM said the pandemic was spreading rapidly in Tier 2 and 3 cities as well. He called for accelerating efforts to upgrade resources in such places. He urged doctors to connect with their colleagues working in Tier 2 and 3 cities and give them online consultations to ensure that all protocols are followed correctly.

“During the same time last year, it was due to our doctors’ hard work and the nation’s strategy that we were able to control the coronavirus wave. Now that the country is facing the second wave, all doctors, our frontline workers, are confronting the pandemic with full force, and are saving the lives of millions of people,” the PM said, adding that vaccination was the biggest weapon in the fight against coronavirus.

Later, the PM interacted with leaders of the pharmaceutical industry via video conferencing. He noted the crucial role of the pharma sector in the fight against the pandemic and appreciated reduction in the price of drugs like remdesivir. To keep the supply of medicines and medical equipment smooth, he urged the pharma industry to ensure seamless supply chains.

Full report on www.toi.in

NO ALTERNATIVE: In a virtual interaction with doctors, PM Modi said vaccination was the biggest weapon in the Covid fight

Remdesivir no magic bullet: AIIMS chief

New Delhi:

Amid rising concerns about shortage of medicines and oxygen while the country reels under a massive surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria emphasised on the need to follow the ‘right time and right usage’ of drugs, steroids and oxygen in treatment of hospitalised patients.

Underlining that most patients in home settings do not require these medicines and are recovering with proper care and clinical management, Dr Guleria said the drugs being used in treatment of Covid-19 are ‘investigational’ and therefore need to be used properly as per the protocol. “It’s important to understand that remdesivir isn’t a magic bullet and isn’t a drug that decreases mortality. We may use it as we don’t have an anti-viral drug. It’s of no use if given early to asymptomatic individuals or ones with mild symptoms. Also of no use, if given late,” Dr Guleria said. TNN