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'Prescribe alternative to Tocilizumab injections,' Punjab's Health Dept advice health facilities
Chandigarh, May 3, 2021: Amid the shortage of supply and availability of Tocilizumab, an injection being used in the COVID-19 treatment, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab has advised both the government and private health facilities in the state to prescribe an alternative to Tocilizumab injections to the patients.
The department has asked the health facilities to prescribe alternatives that are easily available and are equally effective i.e injections of Itolizumab or injection of Dexamethasone as per the protocol recommended by the expert group headed by Dr. KK Talwar. Adviser, Health and Medical Education to Government of Punjab.
"It has been observed that the doctors are prescribing Injection Tocilizumab 400 mg to patients. It is a matter of common knowledge that Injection Tocilizumab 400 mg is not manufactured in India and its availability in the country is very low," read the advisory issued by the State Health Department.
Tocilizumab injection that costs over Rs 40,000 per vial is currently short in supply in India. The injection recently gained popularity in India as a life-saver for critically ill-patients.