COVID-19 pandemic: Guidelines key to ensuring uniform treatment protocol, but can be improved upon

It is also important for the medical community to remain updated on the current guidelines and accommodate the new changes that occur from time to time Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, for all of us in the healthcare industry, has not only been a very challenging experience but also an enriching one. In this pandemic too, various guidelines have been put forth by national bodies like the Indian Council of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services and international ones like World Health Organisation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the USA and others. There were also multiple guidelines about the prevention and treatment of this disease in the initial phases, including a huge clamour for the use of hydroxychloroquine both for prevention and treatment of the disease; Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Zinc to boost your immunity; use of antibiotics like doxycycline, azithromycin, antiviral drug like Oseltamivir and antiparasitic agent Ivermectin. Based on all these experiences, the million-dollar question that arises in one’s mind is, ‘What is the role of guidelines in a pandemic like this?’ My response to this would be that there certainly is a role for guidelines but with certain caveats, which are: a) The guidelines issued by various scientific bodies and regulatory authorities are based on the knowledge they have at the time the guideline was issued.