LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Monday allowed the private hospitals to purchase Tocilizumab (Actemra) injection to treat the critically ill patients of coronavirus.
The Punjab government had approved the use of Actemra last month in the wake of a sudden rise in the death rate reported by state-run hospitals across the province. The 400mg injectable drug — an interleukin-6 inhibitor which goes by the generic name of tocilizumab — will be prescribed to patients who develop lung complications and an abnormal level of IL-6 in the blood. IL-6 is an endogenous chemical that causes inflammation.
According to the official directive, the hospitals with at least five or more dedicated beds for pandemic patients were allowed to purchase the injection.
According to multiple reports which cited official sources, the price of each dose of the injection is Rs60,000 and it will be given twice to patients under treatment at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a life-threatening condition.
The acquirement of the injection however will be subject to official permission. A two-member committee will issue a formal letter to the hospital’s administration after inspecting the patient. Moreover, the hospitals will submit the record of purchase and usage of the drug to the commission.
PHC will also monitor and audit the use of injections in private hospitals.
