The World Health Organization (WHO) has reacted to the British government’s announcement of a cheap and widely available drug that saves patients seriously down with COVID-19.
Recall that British Prime Minister on Tuesday said UK researchers identified a new drug, which is effective and has reduced COVID-19 deaths risk.
The drug identified as Dexamethasone has reduced death risk for patients in ventilators by one-third and oxygen by one fifth.
Reacting, WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement late on Tuesday, that the UN health agency’s clinical guidance would be updated to reflect how and when the drug should be used.
According to him, WHO was looking forward to the full data analysis of the study in the coming days.
“This is the first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support,” Ghebreyesus said.
“WHO will coordinate a meta-analysis to increase our overall understanding of this intervention.
“WHO clinical guidance will be updated to reflect how and when the drug should be used in COVID-19,” the agency added.
