Within the last 98 years, Covid -19 is the first pandemic which, the present world population experiences in a large scale. Hence, this new disease has to be studied in depth by the medical scientific community to fight effectively against it. While trying to find an effective medication or a vaccine is on (which may take a year), so many research papers were already published by medical researchers in various parts of the world. Based on such researchers, world medical bodies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Center for Disease Control (CDC) formulate their guidelines. But there seems to be a hitch in such a procedure during this pandemic. If a research has to be valid and accepted by all, it has to be on solid factual data, and it should have been peer reviewed by unbiased and ethical researchers. The researchers should not be a part of any sponsoring organisations like pharma or other medical companies. They should have a strong ethical and scientific reputation.
But in this recent research, many of the above things were violated. Hydroxy chloroquine (HCQ) an anti-malarial drug was claimed to have beneficial effect against the corona virus. A research paper of three (well reputed) Indian doctors in USA, was published in a reputed British medical journal ‘Lancet’ and an American top journal The ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ (NEJM) claimed that HCQ is not useful in treating Covid-19 and also can pose dangerous cardiac problems to the patients. Based on these findings WHO stopped recommending the use of HCQ. However, the Lancet and NEJM retracted the research paper within a few weeks stating that the authors could not supply the data properly. It is surprising to note how the peers allowed that publication in two prestigious journals without verifying the data in first place. Hence lot of conspiracy theories have started flowing. The prime author seems to have association with a company manufacturing ‘Remdesivir’ a costly anti-viral drug claimed to be useful in tackling the virus. Hence, he published the article undermining the effectiveness of the cheap drug HCQ in a hurry without having proper data.
I always say that pharmas are organised powerful medical mafia in the world, worse than tobacco mafia. They spend billions in research, no doubt, but they manipulate lot of drug research by influencing the researchers and get the approval for their products from the govt agencies. This is happening for a long time. When the approved drugs, after hitting the market show dangerous properties, they withdraw them, meanwhile making billions of dollars from them. Many anti diabetic drugs were withdrawn in the last decade in such a manner. Hence there may be some truth in the conspiracy theory, that to promote the costly Remdesivir as a good drug for Covid, they would have demonized the cheaper HCQ. Before the pandemic is over Remdesivir can make millions in the market, just how Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) did in Swine and bird Flu epidemics in the last decade.
I feel that, in order to get authentic scientific evidences related to Covid -19 clinical features, diagnostic tests, curative, prophylactic treatments and vaccines, it will take at least a year or two. Till such time it is everybody’s play field to claim wonder cures. Allopathy, Siddha, Ayurveda and every other medical related field may claim magical potions. People may follow them according to their beliefs. As a doctor my belief is that there is no effective drug for the virus at present and hence protecting ourselves in the best possible way is the only option!
God bless honest medical research!
Kannan M.D. 