Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has said that a technical team in Pakistan will consider using Dexamethasone medicine to treat those critically ill with coronavirus infection.
In a tweet Wednesday, he pointed out the World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed the initial clinical trial results from the United Kingdom that show dexamethasone can be lifesaving for patients who are critically ill with COVID-19. Dr Zafar Mirza said it is an old and cheap anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) and we have multiple producers in Pakistan.
The Special Assistant, however, warned dexamethasone is only for critically ill COVID-19 patients who are on oxygen and ventilators.
He said the medicine must not be used by mild to moderate patients and that self-medication is strictly prohibited and can be dangerous as the medicine has many side-effects. The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP) on a petition against sale of surgical face masks, temperature guns, plasma and life-saving drugs at an exorbitant price in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
The LHC judge Justice Sajid Mehmood conducted hearing on a plea filed against hike in prices of surgical masks, hand sanitizers, temperature guns, life-saving drugs, and sought reply from DRAP. The LHC directed authorities, concerned officials to appear before the court in the next hearing. The court then adjourned hearing till June 22.
In the previous hearing on Monday, the LHC directed concerned authorities to ensure the availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitizer, life-saving drugs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
