Pune: One of the most expensive drugs ever used against Covid-19 has found its way to hospitals and nursing homes in small cities such as Akluj in the Solapur District and Jaysinghpur in Kolhapur Regency.
Medication, cocktails of two artificial (monoclonal) antibodies that act, can cost as much as Rs 60,000.
Apart from the price, demand driven by patients at risk of hoping to avoid serious covid and steroids during treatment.
And doctors in small cities, often with limited infrastructure and are interested in reducing the patient’s inpatient period, reporting positive results.
Doctor Dhanesh Gandhi, with Akluj Critical Care and Trauma Center, said he had been able to treat covid patients lightly to moderate with existing medical conditions with antibody cocktails, since his availability improved starting June 20.
“Except for three patients, the rest reported recovery in 48 hours of therapy,” Gandhi said, adding that he knew at least four other nursing homes in Akluj who had mobilized therapy.
In Jaysinghpur, Doctor Pravin Jain said 20 patients were given an antibody cocktail, with good results, at the Sanjeevan 30 hospital.
“The majority of them are senior citizens.
The oldest recipient is 86,” Jain said.
Antibody cocktails are a single dose shot, given through droplets, which takes up to 45 minutes.
A patient is then included in the observation for 30-60 minutes or 24-48 hours, depending on needs.