COVID-19: Odisha Issues SOP on Use of Favipiravir Tablet during Home Isolation

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on use of tablet Favipiravir during the home isolation.

Since home isolation of asymptomatic and mild cases has come to an acceptable practice and a significant number of cases in the State are already under home isolation, the provision of tablet Favipiravir to eligible, symptomatic COVID-19 patients in home isolation has become a necessity, the SOP said.

Considering the pharmacology of the tablet, the following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be followed to ensure supply of tablet Favipiravir to eligible symptomatic Covid-19 patients in the State who are in home isolation.

Here is the SOP:

• Rapid Response Team (OFT) will be specifically trained to assess the patient in home isolation whether he/she can be administered Favipiravir Tablet at home, in consultation with trained doctors.

If patient is assessed to be suitable for administration of Favipiravir , the RRT team will explain the patient and his/her relatives about the use of Favipiravir Tablet , its side effects, precautions and actions to be taken by him/her or by his/her relatives after initiation of therapy.

RRT team will collect the informed consent duly filled and will take steps for provision of 5 days course of Favipiravir Tablet.

RRT will hand over the information sheet / advisory on Favipiravir Tablet use after explaining in detail when and how to use the drugs, how and whom to report the adverse reactions and progress of the disease condition while handing over the drug for use.

The patient shall be counseled to report any adverse reaction occurring during therapy and also the course of disease during therapy.

On the events of major adverse reactions or worsening of general condition RRT will coordinate the shifting of the patient to the appropriate Covid Care Facility.

The patient shall be followed up regularly by physical observation, telephonic or online contacts, the SOP said.