Pharmacists are playing their part as front-line health-care professionals inpatient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in community pharmacies, hospitals, and other health-care settings including long-term care. Simultaneously Pharmacists are also involved in the development of new drug therapy in the management of COVID-19.
Covid-19, the new virus began generating headlines all over the world because of its fast speed of transmission. Indian government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that we are prepared well enough to face the challenge and threat posed by the growing pandemic of the Corona Virus. With the active support of the people in India, we have been relatively able to contain the spread of the virus in our country. The most important factor in preventing the spread of the Virus locally is to empower the citizens with the right information and taking precautions as per the advisories being issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
There is currently no specific treatment for COVID-19, but some therapeutic agents have been evaluated for the treatment of Covid-19, these are not too efficacious still these can be used to reduce the illness caused by COVID-19.
Some of these are discussed below:-
• Remdesivir : This therapeutic agent or Antiviral drug can be used in COVID-19 as it has been approved by the Indian government because it can cure the COVID-19 patients within 11 days. It works by shutting down the viral replication in the human body. It can be given to hospitalized patients along with oxygen. It is generally given by the IV route.
• Dexamethasone : This corticosteroid has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. It was tested in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and was found to have benefits for critically ill patients. According to preliminary findings shared with WHO (and now available as a preprint), for patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by about one third, and for patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth. It is also given by the IV route in severe cases.
• Favipiravir : This oral antiviral drug can also be used to treat COVID-19. This antiviral drug works by selectively inhibiting RNA polymerase which is needed for the replication of Sars-CoC-2 inside the human body to cause severe disease.
• Tocilizumab : It is a monoclonal antibody which has been played an important role in the treatment of Covid-19 and has been approved by the government of India. It fights against inflammatory chemicals and prevents us from infections. It is also given by the IV route like the other drugs and it can cure moderate and severe conditions both.
• Glucocorticoid : This therapy was found to reduce the duration of fever, but not mortality, duration of hospitalization, or lung inflammation absorption. Long-term use of high-dose glucocorticoids increased the risk of adverse reactions such as co-infections, so routine use of systemic glucocorticoids for patients with COVID-19 cannot be recommended.
• Convalescent Plasma : The FDA is facilitating access to convalescent plasma, antibody-rich products that are collected from eligible donors who have recovered from COVID-19. Convalescent plasma has shown limited efficacy in COVID-19. The FDA states that it is important to determine its safety and efficacy via clinical trials before routinely administering convalescent plasma to patients with COVID-19. It can be given by transfusion in the moderate condition of patients suffering from COVID-19. It has been approved for restricted use in India and started Plasma Bank in different areas of the country.
• Hydroxychloroquine : It is an antimalarial drug that has been approved by the Indian Government for the treatment of Covid-19. It decreases the acidity in endosomes and protects the cell damage from the virus. The oral tablets of it are given to patients who are suffering from a severe illness from COVID-19.
So it is advised that a Covid-19 patient, must be admitted immediately to the hospital so that in the supervision of medical staff all the above medicines can be given to the patient along with oxygen and a healthy diet. But as we all know that “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE” so wash the hands properly, rub the sanitizer on hands for 20 seconds, wear masks and follow social distancing to protect yourself from COVID-19.
The whole world has witnessed the disastrous catastrophe of the global pandemic of COVID-19. The preventive and curative measures play a very important role in ensuring the good health of the citizens of the economy. Pharmaceutical Drugs play an important role in curing patients of various diseases. Pharmaceutical Sector is growing at a consistent rate in India and abroad and is offering great career opportunities to thousands of students. The students can pursue the Diploma Program, Bachelor’s Degree Program, Master Degree Program, and Doctoral-Level Program in the domain of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
In the Post COVID-19 scenario, the role of pharmaceutical professionals is likely to increase as the patients are staying in the hospital for a prolonged period in quarantine. The role and importance of pharmaceutical professionals will increase as they are well aware of pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics which means how the pharmaceutical drug is impacting the body and how the body is responding to the drug. In the current pandemic, the number of affected patients is set to rise. Naturally, the requirement for pharmaceutical sciences professionals is also going to increase. A large number of human resources is now requiring pharma professionals to take up administrative jobs at hospitals and the Pharmaceutical sector is likely to offer promising and enriching careers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector at the global level with lucrative salary packages in the Post COVID-19 scenario.
About Author:
Dr. Ashish Acharya
[Principal, CIP]
Email Id : Prof.acharya1@gmail.com
Phone : 9425024469
Corporate Group Of Institutions, Bhopal 