ICPA Health Products Ltd (ICPA), Mumbai based pharmaceutical company, has submitted a representation to the Government requesting the inclusion of Chlorhexidine mouthwash to the list of precautionary measures and best health practices to reduce COVID19 transmission effectively.

In the representation, ICPA has cited multiple independent studies that indicated that rinsing the mouth and gargling the throat with Chlorhexidine mouthwash eliminates the virus and reduces its transmission.

ICPA has suggested to the Government that along with safe distancing, hand sanitization, proper use of masks and eyewear, the use of Chlorhexidine mouthwash can reduce virus transmission.

“India is witnessing a record number of cases in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccines seem like the best option to develop herd immunity at the community level and to prevent the spread of infections, its implementation will take time to cover the entire population. In the interim, we urgently need measures that will help us crush the curve by preventing the spread and by reducing the severity of the infection. We need an inexpensive and effective solution to control the pandemic. Studies have suggested that Chlorhexidine mouthwash is a safe and straightforward addition to the current COVID‐19 prevention guidelines which is also inexpensive and widely available,” says Abha Damani, Director, ICPA Health Products Ltd.