No Sync between DCGI and ICMR

Many people used to hear about two Medical and Research bodies like DCGI and ICMR soon after the eruption of the pandemic virus in India. Spokespersons of two bodies gave their brief on coronavirus in India to the people everyday evening. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is the head of the department in the approval of licenses of specified categories of drugs. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research. It seems there was no coordination between the two on some issues that create confusion for the people.

The Union Health Minister announced that the first anti-viral pill was available to fight Covid-19 but the Chief of the Medical Research Council of India has stated that there is a risk of various diseases if the pills are used. In fact, this is not the first time that different system decisions have been different in the case of Covid‌-19 drugs and vaccines. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20 approved the emergency use of the zygote vaccine, developed by Zydus Cadila. But that was not included in the vaccination program, which runs from January 3 for 15- to 18-year-olds people. The monoclonal antibody Itolizumab, developed by Biocon, was approved by the DCGI on July 11, 2020. ICMR chief Dr. Balaram Bhargava said itolizumab could not be included in the treatment protocol for three days. 

ICMR did not include itolyzumab in the treatment protocol due to lack of proper information but Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and convalescent plasma were treated differently included in the protocol. Remdesivir and favipiravir were included in the treatment protocol without proper data. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on November 20 that hospitalizes would no longer be able to use Remdesivir, but ICMR treatment protocol continued. Why are there these differences between the ICMR protocol and DCGI approvals? Some physicians support ICMR. This is because the pharmaceutical companies explain that the DCGI allows emergency use based on their advanced data. The ICMR examines them in-depth and decides whether or not to include them in the protocol.