DNA Explainer: What is Line of Treatment for COVID? Why plasma therapy is now out of it?
The ICMR has clinically dropped convalescent plasma therapy treatment for patients suffering from COVID-19 from its newly revised guidelines. (Image Source: Reuters)
Updated: May 18, 2021, 12:48 PM IST
In a major development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has clinically dropped convalescent plasma therapy treatment for patients suffering from COVID-19 from its newly revised guidelines.
The decision of removing this treatment from the Line of treatment arrived after medical experts and scientists raised concerns against this practice. ICMR had permitted off-label use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients in its revised guidelines on April 22, but now they have pulled it back.
A view of Remdesivir injection for treating coronavirus at Tiruchi. File
| Photo Credit:
M. Srinath
Effective immediate allocation, and streamlined delivery to recipient States, Union Territories and institutions is an ongoing exercise, it said Nineteen oxygen generation plants, 11,321 oxygen concentrators, 15,801 oxygen cylinders and about 5.5 lakh Remdesivir vials received as global aid have been delivered or dispatched to various states and union territories from April 27 to May 16, the Centre said on Monday.
The government has been receiving international cooperation for COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since April 27 from different countries and organisations.
Through a streamlined and systematic mechanism, various ministries and departments have seamlessly collaborated under the ‘whole of government’ approach for expeditiously delivering incoming global aid to states and union territories, the Union health ministry said.
The Goods and Services Tax Council (GST) will meet on May 28, after a gap of more than six months as country battles the ravaging second Covid-19 wave. Several states had urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to convene a GST Council meeting at the earliest, to rework compensation shortfall and borrowing requirement and provide tax relief on Covid-19 related goods. Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 43rd GST Council meeting via video conferencing at 11 AM in New Delhi on 28th May 2021.. Sitharaman s office tweeted on Saturday. Other key issues pending before the Council include rationalisation of GST rate slabs, correction of inverted duty on certain items and inclusion of petroleum products, etc.
Telangana Govt Doing Audit of Remdesivir Consumption in Private Hospitals to Prevent Misuse: KTR May 14, 2021, 10:32 IST
IT and Industries Minister KTR on Thursday evening went live on social media platform Twitter and interacted directly with Twitteratti.
“Let’s do an #AskKTR session exclusively on all COVID related issues & what Govt plans are to tackle the pandemic. Please send in your comments, questions & suggestions,” Tweeted the Minister.
During the session, wishes poured in for the Minister who had recently recovered from Covid19. Many concerned citizens also enquired about his present health status.
During the two hour long session, #AskKTR remained on top trends in India on Twitter.