Thread by @ProfSomashekhar

In 🇮🇳 we have had the benefit of research conducted in the west. Masking, Dexamethasone, Lockdowns, Toci, etc have helped us manage the #COVID19 pandemic. But we like to do jugaad so we added to the mix Steam inhalation’s, multiple antibiotics, zinc, Vit C 1/n

Then there are kadhas, 💧 neeti, IVM, HCQ and so on and so forth. We have a high diabetic population which means we have a even higher prediabetic one which when sick with COVID19 can fiddle with our glucose homeostasis. This has probably resulted in a heady mix. 2/n

The west has given us #COVID19Vaccine to protect against #COVID19 We don’t yet have phase 3 data for the really 🇮🇳 one. Whether we like it or not our medical care depends on research done in the west - at least most of it. Now we have the #BlackFungus problem that no one has 3/n

And hence the west will not research leaving us to fend for ourselves. This is going to test our privileged institutions whether they can sort this issue fast because it seems it is a bigger issue than #COVID19 in terms of mortality and morbidity. 4/n

Even now the first semblance of data is coming from tier 2 cities and not privileged institutions. Would like to see more of our tax money generating better data and research to help us. We need to know rapidly why this is happening to put a stop to it. 5/n

This is critical research that needs to be done. We haven’t seen much of good work (PLACID trial exception) in the past year in original research that helped. Maybe now is the time to step up. Also maybe everyone can go easy on the steam, zinc, kadhas and #immunityboosters 6/End