S. Vishnu Sharma
SRMMCHRC, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre at Kattankulathur has ventured ahead to undertake research on all medical systems including Siddha with a purpose to regulate the corona virus.
SRMMCHRC has ventured ahead to take up the research on all medical systems including traditional ones like Siddha to understand how can they be helpful in contributing to regulate the virus, Dr. Lt. Col. A. Ravikumar, pro vice chancellor (Medical and Health Sciences).
SRMMCHRC 2020
In the popular message-space, ‘Kabasura Kudineer’, the herbal concoction as part of the indigenous ‘Siddha’ formulations to tackle coronavirus, may be seen as a harmless immune booster in susceptible populations.
But that stage is already being surpassed, thanks to the Central and State governments also opening up the inclusion of Indian systems of medicine and medical research institutions like SRMMCHRC taking up the challenge.
Dr. Melvin George, Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacology, SRMMCHRC said indegenous herbal concoctions like ‘Kabasura Kudineer’ which are part of traditional Siddha medicine system are known to be boosting up natural immunity system in individuals.
However, the idea is to go beyond that and see in a scientific manner as to whether it really works or not, said Dr. Melving George of SRMMCHRC.
We are taking up a study to see how Siddha formulations can be helpful to the mainline allopathic hospital treatment to cure COVID-19 and also how they can prevent the virus from spreading.
The study is being taken up in association with National Institute of Siddha (NIS), said Dr. George of SRMMCHRC.
This important study by SRMMCHRC and NIS is being aided by two groups of people in all 150 and split into 75 persons in each group with their individual consent of which one group will get the regular medical treatment for Covid-19 plus the ‘Siddha’ formulations and the other group get only standard medical care, explains Dr. Satyajit Mahopatra and Dr Melvin George.
The outcomes from these two groups will be compared in testing claims whether ‘Siddha’ formulations really help prevent Covid-19 cases going from ‘mild’ to ‘severe’, the lesser number of days taken for a cure and the like.
Nearly 40 percent of this study by SRMMCHRC and NIS has been completed and at the end of it we will publish the findings along with the NIS, he said.
Another area of research SRMMCHRC is in thick of, is testing the efficacy of recombinant BCG vaccine
in preventing Covid-19 infections among people who are in the high-risk zone, particularly among the hospital staff who are treating Covid-19 patients.
This is being taken up by SRMMHRC in partnership with the Serum Institute, Pune. Apart from this, SRMMCHRC will also take part in study to find out whether ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ as a prophylactic can prevent onset of Covid-19 coronavirus infection in people who are working in hospitals.
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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given guidelines for this two months back and SRMMCHRC is one of the 25 hospitals across India chosen for this study also, said Dr. Melvin George.
‘Ultimately, with so many people suffering due to Covid-19, the purpose of widening the research horizons at SRMMCHRC by collaborating with various organisations is to join different initiatives and with our contributions cumulatively make an impact in fighting the pandemic, says Dr. Melvin George.
It is a large team who are working and if by collaborative research we can contribute to understanding Covid-19, for its treatment and prevention and if it can stop the pandemic and save people’s lives, it will be a big thing, added Dr Melvin George.
The SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre is situated on the NH 45 GST road at Potheri between Tambaram and Chengalpattu in a sprawling 33.61-acre campus.
The proximity of the Medical College Hospital campus to other Institutions of the SRM Institute of Science and Technology namely Engineering, Management, Dental, Arts & Science and Biotechnology is strategic in facilitating collaborative research.
The Hospital serves a population of over 3,00,000 in and around Kattankulathur.
SRMMCHRC offers a plethora of opportunities to climb the career ladder as well as to change this world healthier providing the sophisticated treatment.
With an annual intake of 150 students for Undergraduate, the medical college was commenced in 2005 and Postgraduate courses were started in 2011.
The Hospital beds strength was started originally from 300, subsequently increased to 500,750 and presently with 1210 beds.