The use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been removed from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the COVID-19 National Task Force “revised clinical guidance for management of adult COVID-19 patients".

Both the drugs can still be used with caution in the setting of a climax trial. Experts from the government agencies did not find sufficient evidence to validate a potential therapeutic role of the drugs against COVID-19. A randomized controlled trial of 157 patients by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had stated that ivermectin was not able to decrease the viral load or duration of symptoms in COVID patients, even at higher doses. A report in The Hindu Business Line had stated that HCQ was removed owing to no mortality benefit, and a heightened risk of adverse drug effect (ADE) when administered with azithromycin… (HT, September 24, 2021)