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1. Introduction

During the crisis of COVID-19 world health organization has announced an anti-malaria drug. The drug name is “Hydroxychloroquine”. This should use in treating COVID-19 patients.
The misconception that the anti-malarial drug. (HCQ) is a potential treatment for COVID-19, has spread throughout the world. Given the lack of evidence to prove the drug’s ability to reduce the viral load on patients. In the meantime, many medical universities have been authorized to use HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, few clinical trials are underway to establish evidence of the same.[1]
2. What you should know?

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is similar to chloroquine. HCQ is a medicine used to treat the disease of malaria. Malaria is an infection which is caused by a parasite. Chloroquine is first approved by the FDA in the year 1949. In 1955 HCQ was approved. It is preferable than chloroquine because it is less side effects. HCQ has side effects if we take it as higher does. HCQ was one of four drug combinations tested in a global clinical trial called the Solidarity Trial, coordinated by the WHO. It was coordinated by the World Health Organization.[2]
Till now, in thirty-five countries there are four-hundred hospitals where COVID-19 patients get benefits by taking HCQ, Remdesivir, Ritonavir and Ritonavir with interferon beta-1a.

3.    How are these tested?

To get the benefit of HCQ drugs over “standard of care”, laboratories will be evaluating these drugs in RCT’s. it is a most medically genuine way to test these drugs. Now, some of the patients are able to get the drug and some of them are not able to get it. 
 4.  Is HCQ is really effective in treating COVID-19

At this time, HCQ is not approved by FDA for the prevention of corona virus. Based on some of the studies, they show that HCQ has no benefit on patients. In the medical journal named Lacet (12th study) held on May 22nd, 2020, it has been found that: –
“ninety-six thousand and thirty-two patients across 671 hospitals in six countries have no benefit. Around 15,000 patients got Hydroxychloroquine. Because of this the death rate of patients increases from 16% to 24%”.[3]

But, because of this there is additional harm to a disease named cardiac arrhythmia. This disease found in those patients who are treated with HCQ.
Hydroxychloroquine is available in hospitals and these are given to the patients of COVID-19. When the case of corona has confirmed in a patient, the patient received it.
Many scientific studies are under process to find a way to cure COVID-19. The various government agencies, hospitals and bio-pharmaceutical companies are supported by FDA to accelerate the study process.
India’s stance on usage of HCQ: –

India says that HCQ would be given to those patients who were at high risk of contracting the infection. This statement based on laboratory experiments that showed HCQ drugs had anti-viral properties.

In India doctors are planning to treat patients not only with HCQ but along with combination of drugs. Along with it, (ICMR) said that, people should not believe or see it as a preventive measure to cure COVID-19. But, ICMR said that under strict observation patients can use HCQ: –

a.       ill COVID-19 patients
b.      doctors and people who are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
5.  Why has hydroxychloroquine has been considered as a possible treatment for the coronavirus?

·         The drug which has considered for coronavirus patients takes a longer time to the overactive immune system. Because of this, it used to treat diseases of: –

a. lupus, and
b. rheumatoid arthritis.
In some grave cases of COVID-19, the immune system of a patient overdrives. Because of this, it causes inflammation. Hence, it causes damage to the lungs and other parts of the body.

·         The reports of France and China said that hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin an antibiotic, to help patients.

·         A successful laboratory study with cultured cells showed that chloroquine could block coronavirus from invasive cells, which it must do to replicate and cause disease. However, drugs that conquer viruses in test tubes or petri dishes do not always work in the human body, and studies of hydroxychloroquine have shown that they have not been able to prevent or treat influenza and other viral diseases.
6. Which countries authorized their use?

HCQ is authorized to the USA, France, Brazil and several middle eastern countries.
 7. Side effects of HCQ

a.       Retinal objectivity, leading to blindness (irreversible),

b.      It causes low blood sugar,

c.       Severely affects the rhythm of the heartbeat,

d.      Promotes suicidal behaviour in patients,

e.       Furthermore, HCQ is not a one-time drug and administered in minor quantities of 200mg with long intervals between each dosage.
8. Conclusion

The study does not explain what virological healing meant. However, there is no study on the health status of the patient free of side effects. However, several other tests show a reduction in viral load in severely ill patients. Thereby, some doctors recommend attempting to check Hydroxychloroquine, but as of now, there has been no proof of possible cure. Therefore, all COVID-19 patients cannot be used as full-time treatment until clinical trials have been completed. As of now, HCQ in India decreases the pressure on seriously ill COVID patients as an emergency and not as a remedy.

Thank You, 
Kanoon Jaano