Health Ministry Issues Protocols For COVID-19 Recovered Patients

In the light of growing evidence of post-COVID recovery complications, the Health Ministry recently issued ‘Post Covid-19 Management Protocol’ that mandate follow-up of discharged patients at health facilities within a week. The ministry’s recommendations include daily practice of yoga, morning or evening walks and a teaspoon of chyawanprash with warm water or milk. Besides, the ministry also urges to take AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) medicines only when prescribed by a registered doctor.

At an individual level, the protocol suggests recovered COVID patients to continue to wear masks, maintain hand and respiratory hygiene and physical distancing. It also advises recovered people to drink an adequate amount of warm water. If health permits, it asks them to do regular household work and resume professional work in a graded manner. It also recommends exercises, yoga and pranayama (breathing exercises).

Apart from the medication recommended by allopathic doctors, the Health Ministry also encouraged the use of a number of herbal remedies, such as ‘Ayush Kwath’, ‘Samshamani vati’, ‘mulethi powder’ and warm milk with Haldi. Sharing the extensive list of suggestions, the Health Ministry tweeted, “A holistic approach is required for follow up care and wellbeing of all post-COVID recovering patients.”

The document also stated a balanced nutritious diet, preferably easy to digest freshly cooked soft diet should be consumed. A recovered patient needs to take adequate sleep and rest. They should avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol. Self-health monitoring at home – temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar (especially, if diabetic), pulse oximetry etc (if medically advised). If there is persistent dry cough/sore throat, do saline gargles and take steam inhalation. The addition of herbs/spices for gargling/steam inhalation. Cough medications should be taken on the advice of a medical doctor or qualified practitioner of Ayush.