The Jorhat Medical College and Hospital in Assam has become the first hospital in the State to administer 2-DG drug on a COVID-19 patient.
The 2-Deoxy-D+Glucose (2-DG) drug, administered by the JMCH authorities, was procured by the COVID-19 patient on an individual capacity.
Dr Purnima Baruah, superintendent of JMCH said: “The patient had procured the drug on an individual capacity and we did not feel that it was unethical to give it to him as it has received the government’s nod.”
“The patient’s uncle is a senior scientist of DRDO in Hyderabad and the patient wrote in detail how it could be got and we contacted his kin who sent it to us,” she added.
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Dr Baruah further said that it was too early to tell if the medicine was working as only two doses – one Saturday night and one Sunday morning was administered.
“It is a five-day course and we are monitoring the patient’s condition which is critical. We hope that it works successfully by the end of the course,” she said.
Dr Baruah added that everyone including the family of the COVID-19 patient is hoping that the 2-DG drug would work.
“Later other COVID-19 patients would be administered 2-DG drug after the government sends it to us,” Dr Purnima Baruah said.