Health ministry bets on holistic approach in post-COVID-19 management protocol

Use of immunity promoting AYUSH medicine, yoga among suggestions

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released guidelines for post-COVID management protocol for managing patients who have recovered enough from COVID for care at home.

With India in second place for global COVID-19 cases, third highest deaths, second highest recoveries, the ministry’s  focus on the country’s 3,702,595 recoveries is understandable, especially as recovery is proving to be more complicated than expected.

The ministry’s released guidelines specify that the four-page document is not meant to be used as preventive / curative therapy. It also notes that the recovery period is likely to be longer for patients who suffered from more severe form of the disease and those with pre-existing illness.

The document note that after acute COVID-19 illness, recovered patients may continue to report wide variety of signs and symptoms including fatigue, body ache, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, etc. As of now there is limited evidence of post-COVID sequalae and further research is required and is being actively pursued.  Therefore the document reasons that a holistic approach is required for follow up care and well-being of all post COVID recovering patients.

The ministry suggests guidelines for post-COVID follow up protocol at three levels, moving from the individual, to the community and then at healthcare facility level.

The document also has an annexure with suggestions of immunity promoting AYUSH medicine to be prescribed only by practitioners permitted under law for prescribing the medicine/therapy under specific stream.

The document has a suggestion from the Ministry of AYUSH that the use of Chyawanprash in the morning (1 teaspoonful) with luke warm water/milk is highly recommended (under the direction of registered ayurveda physician) as in the clinical practice Chyawanprash is believed to be effective in post-recovery  period.