The California Department of Health suggested distributing Remdesivir, which has “a positive effect in reducing recovery time,” through a lottery. coronavirus.
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The state agency received the medicine to an amount between 100 and 200 doses when there are more than 3,000 hospitalized for him coronavirus, according to CNN. Given the insufficiency of giving Remdesivir to all who need it, a guide was issued to hospitals suggesting ways on how to distribute it.
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“If the drug supply is not adequate to serve all eligible patients, it can be considered randomization between patients (For example, using a lottery system to select a certain proportion of patients who are eligible), the guide says. “
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The recommendation recognizes that “this situation will be difficult for patients and families, doctors and hospital staff.” But they say the guide is necessary when “there is not an adequate supply of a drug for all eligible hospitalized patients.”
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Who can receive the medicine?
The Department of Food and Medicines authorized the use of the medicine for those hospitalized who are a “severe” case of coronavirus. These are patients with low blood oxygen levels, those who need oxygen therapy or are on an artificial respirator.
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The guide of California gives priority to the Remdesivir to essential workers. But no one can be excluded by “age, disability, race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, immigration status or perceived quality of life.”
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The doctor. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, said in April that Remdesivir had a “clear, significant and positive effect in reducing recovery time.”
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How is the federal distribution?
The distribution of the drug by the federal government was controversial. It was done in two ways. The first was given directly to hospitals, in some cases medical centers that did not need it, as happened in Massachusetts. The second was sent to state health agencies. California was not included in the first shipment of the drug despite being among the states with the most cases in the nation.
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“The deal the Department of Health and Human Services made is akin to winning the lottery, a random stroke of luck rather than a medically informed decision,” Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Texas, and Rosa DeLauro wrote in a letter. , from Connecticut to Secretary Alex Azar. There they asked for more information on how allocation decisions are being made and “a transparent process” for the distribution of treatment to the coronavirus.
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