Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Amid the confusion over the use of plasma therapy and Remdesivir for treating COVID-19 patients, Odisha Health Secretary Pradipta Mohapatra today clarified that the State is yet to receive any official statement from ICMR related to the ineffectiveness of the therapy or the use of the anti-viral drug in treating the infected patients.

The clarification came a couple of day after ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said that the government is planning to delete plasma therapy from the national guidelines for COVID-19 treatment as clinical trial showed it did not significantly benefit patients.

Mohapatra has also advised people not to panic and continue to stricly follow the COVID-19 guidelines.

On ICMR's observation on plasma therapy, Dr Randeep Guleria told ANI, "Plasma isn't a magic bullet. We've to position it properly where it may be useful, rather saying everyone will benefit from it. What we're learning from COVID is that, treatment may be useful if timing is proper."

Recently, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan cautioned against 'routine use' of the therapy and Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients in some states and said that investigational therapies should be adopted 'rationally'.

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