The anti-malarial drug, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate (HCQ), which was dropped by the World Health Organization from its list of clinical trials for COVID-19 on June 17, continues to be prescribed for frontline warriors and Stage-1 COVID-19 patients in India. The drug is being given despite the knowledge of its serious cardiac side-effects. It is not to be given without a mandatory cardiac evaluation and to patients who have a deficiency of enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)."

A Senior BMC doctor, who recently recovered from COVID-19, was shocked when she learnt that she is G6PD deficient. She had been regularly taking HCQ as directed by civic authorities as a precaution. The medicine could have caused severe cardiac risk and sulfate reaction in her body.