COVID prescription viral in the name of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is FAKE

July 25: As the number of novel coronavirus cases are increasing in the country by leaps and bounds, there has been a simultaneous influx of information on the pandemic, many of which are not based on reality. Recently, a preprescription allegedly issued to high-risk contacts of Covid-19 patients and written on a paper that appears to be the letterhead of Dr Raj Kamal Agarwal of Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) has become viral in social media platforms.

The prescription that begins with “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN” reads “As per ICRM guideline, the contacts of COVID +ve cases should be put on HOME ISOLATION even with mild symptoms. It is advised that everybody takes these preventative medications apart from the following SOCIAL DISTANCING, HAND HYGIENE, AND WEARING MASK.”

Also, the said prescription prescribes hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 400 mg, vitamin C, zing 50 mg. As per the notice, in case of fever one should take crocin/ calpol 650 mg and in the case of throat pain, it suggests cetirizine 10 mg and syrup alex 2/3 teaspoon.

It has been brought to our notice that someone has circulated a fake image and forged the doctor's signature. #SGRHIndia strongly dissociates it self from such messages. pic.twitter.com/2obOptXxhp

— Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (@sgrhindia) June 11, 2020

In a tweet, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) declared the said prescription to be a fake one.  SGRH in a tweet wrote, “It has been brought to our notice that someone has circulated a fake image and forged the doctor’s signature. #SGRHIndia strongly dissociates itself from such messages.”

There are certain other points, which are sufficient to prove that this is a fake piece of paper. The letter starts with a line “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN”. Usually, a doctor starts writing the prescription with the name of the patient, not with “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN”. Further, Dr Agarwal works in the anesthesiology department and an anesthesiologist usually does not prescribe medicines to the patients. Thus, it is clear that the viral image is fake and misleading.