NEW DELHI: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in a clinical study among healthcare workers, highlighted that taking four or more maintenance doses of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was associated with a significant decline in the risk of contracting covid-19.
The ICMR study was aimed at identifying factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in the country and is separate from another ongoing study on the efficacy of the anti-malaria drug as prophylaxis among healthcare workers. "Until results of the clinical trials for HCQ prophylaxis become available, this study provides actionable information for policymakers to protect HCWs (healthcare workers) at the forefront of covid-19 response.