Science, Stories and Sevagram: A Physician-Teacher's Reflections
Clinical stories and reflections on evidence-based medicine, research, and patient care.
Dr Priya Mendiratta wrote a post on my poem on Favipiravir and Covid. Thank you Dr SP Kalantri for still guiding us to always practice ethically, not abandon logical thinking and scientific approach . Dr Kalantri’s thoughts on Favipiravir, a new oral drug launched in India yesterday by Glenmark to fight Covid19 infection. He is … Read more
On 18 June 2020, Dr. C. S. Pramesh, the Director of the Tata Memorial Hospital texted me a message and then called me asking if I would be willing to do a talk on Covid and research during Pandemic. A day after. Although I had little time to prepare, I didn’t blink an eyelid to … Read more
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 … Read more
How are COVID-19 vaccines being developed? Several drugmakers have announced that they are moving to Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials; the Oxford vaccine by Serum Institute of India backed by Adar Poonawala has started Phase 3 clinical trials. What do these phases mean? Should we think that we are close to a getting … Read more
No other drug, at least in the early phase of Covid pandemic, evoked as much interest, publicity, blind and demand as Hydroxychloroquine did. It took a couple of well -designed randomized controlled trials to indicate that the drug does not work, and is associated with serious adverse events when used to prevent or treat Covid. … Read more
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been the biggest buzzword across the world lately. Until December 2019, this was a meek drug, used mainly by rheumatologists, internists, and dermatologists for inflammatory diseases. Its cousin Chloroquine has been the most popular drug for malaria. We have known and used these drugs for decades. The antiviral properties of these drugs … Read more
I woke up this morning, thinking about Hydroxychloroquine and COVID__19 . And wrote a poem…
Why should we insist on rational use of medicines? Because we ought to ensure that our patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to them. Irrational use of medicines is a major problem worldwide. WHO … Read more
The Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com/series/low-back-pain) this week has published three papers on low back pain, which should be read by everyone with a back. Authored by an international group of authors, who examine the current evidence and offer recommendations that are based on solid science, these papers make one sit up and take notice. The Lancet says … Read more
Dr. Mandeep Mehra (MGIMS Sevagram alumnus; Class of 1983) today published a landmark trial in the New England Journal of Medicine. His paper showed that a mechanical pump implanted in the heart of patients with advanced heart failure could make the patients breathe better, and walk longer—without increasing the risk of pump-induced strokes. To earn … Read more