Odisha forms panel over use of Tocilizumab, other drugs for COVID patients

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today constituted an expert committee for taking decision on the use of Tocilizumab and other new drugs for COVID patients at treatment facilities.

The committee will examine and assess the proposal of use of such drugs on a case to case basis under the supervision of DMET.

Dr. Bidyut Das, Professor, Rheumatology, SCB MCH Cuttack has been appointed as the Chairman of the committee while Dr. Jyoti Pattanaik, Professor, Pulmonary Medicine, SCB MCH Cuttack and Dr. P. K. Thatoi, Associate Professor, Medicine, SCB MCH Cuttack are the members of the panel.

Responsibility of the Committee:

* When any prescription is made for a Covid patient at a Covid facility with such newer and restrictedly available drug, the prescription shall come as a proposal to seek opinion regarding the judicious use of the drug. Such proposal shall be sent to the Chairman of the Committee with an intimation to DMET, Odisha, and MD, OSMCL on Whatsapp.

* The committee will examine the records and certify the efficacy of the drug as well as the judiciousness use in the particular case. If considered for use, the recommendation shall be made to the MD, OSMCL for the issue of the drug with intimation to the DMET, Odisha by e-mail/WhatsApp.

* After obtaining such recommendation, OSMCL will issue the drug as per the availability.