Kochi: Lok Sabha MP and RSP leader NK Premachandran questioned the efficacy of the Covid-19 treatments in the state. The MP told mathrubhumi.com that even after taking monoclonal antibody therapy by paying Rs 56,000, his wife caught Covid-19 again in a 30-days gap.
“I, my wife and son are tested Covid positive again. The irony is that my wife underwent monoclonal antibody therapy in the previous month. There is nothing conclusive in our healthcare system and our medical experiments are based on just assumptions," the MP said.
In December, Premachandran, his wife Dr Geetha and his son Karthik were tested positive. Following this, Geetha underwent antibody therapy on December 5 at All India Institute Medical Sciences, New Delhi. In January this year, they all tested positive again. “We had a cough, cold and throat pain. When tested, we all were positive. However, the virus is not severe like the first time we were affected,” added Premachandran.
He also said that the state government is an utter failure in managing Covid-19. “The state government does not have a proper figure on rising Omicron cases. In Kerala, people are tested for Covid-19, but we don't have the break up of Delta and Omicron variants,” added MP.
"Now people are asked to take a third dose of the vaccine and a common man blindly follows it without knowing anything. The government must release the structure of the vaccine and inform people how it works to have an idea for the common man on its authenticity,” said Premachandran.
He also criticized the state government for urging government employees to join back on duty on the eighth day after testing positive. “On what basis the state government issues such a circular. As per the guidelines of ICMR, the virus remains on the body till the 17th day. When this is clear, the new guideline will only help its spreading,” added MP.
The MP criticized the state Health Minister Veena George in the way the pandemic is handled. “The minister knows only to read the statistics provided by health experts. She does not even hold a meeting of experts to come up with an effective solution to handle the outbreak,” added Premachandran.
What is Antibody Therapy?
According to the State President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Samuel Koshy, monoclonal antibodies are injected intravenously into the human body to fight the delta variant of Covid-19. “Monoclonal antibodies are not effective against Omicron or other variants of Covid-19. Such antibody treatments were started globally with the arrival of delta variants and international health bodies accept this as an effective way to fight delta variants. People who are above 60 or have any comorbidity are recommended to take this therapy when infected with delta variant.
A vial of monoclonal antibody costs Rs1.10 lakh in the international market. A vial can be administered to two persons. So each person has to shell out Rs 56, 000 for the therapy," Samuel said.
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