WHO had resumed trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine as a part of the Solidarity Trial to find a cure for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The trial had been stopped because a study published in The Lancet said the drug wasn’t as effective as touted. This study is now under the scanner after investigation by the press. Dr SP Kalantri, Director Professor and Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital, Sevagram, says initial studies for use of hydroxychloroquine came from France and China. These studies were poorly designed, not properly monitored and conducted on a very small sample set. They were just not equipped to answer whether hydroxychloroquine a safe and effective in prevention or treatment of COVID-19. These studies created a lot of hype but when researchers critically assessed them, they found that these studies were terrible.
Watch BOOM’s Govindraj Ethiraj interview Dr SP Kalantri on whether hydroxychloroquine is the wonder drug it is being claimed to be and the type of data that we should trust.