Doctors write to Union Health Ministry over inappropriate clinical management of Covid-19

The doctors in the letter have appealed to the central and state health authorities to stop these "unwarranted" practices and promote evidence-based medicine. The letter has suggested to update the evidence-based June 2021 DGHS guidelines. Through public education and professional training, discourage the use of medications that have no supporting evidence for the treatment of Covid-19, the doctors said.

The doctors have also suggested discouraging the use of unwarranted diagnostics, especially for asymptomatic and mild cases, where none are required, except for confirmatory Antigen or PCR tests and to publish guidelines in local languages. Stop any state-sponsored promotion or distribution of medications, cocktails, alternative therapies, or potions that are not scientifically proven therapies, suggests the letter.

Provide all healthcare workers adequate N95 masks and eye protection. Continue to accelerate vaccination, building on current success, said the letter signed by a few Indian-origin doctors from Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities in the US.

Talking to IANS, Dr. Anant Bhan, Yenepoya (deemed to be University), Mangaluru, one of the signatories, said that with almost two years of dealing with the pandemic behind us, it's extremely important that we ensure that evidence based medical and policy decisions are made. Our letter appeals to all relevant stakeholders to focus on public health measures including vaccination, and ensure inappropriate medications and diagnostics are discouraged.

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