Government unable to curb black marketing of corona medicine
As the COVID-19 cases are crossing the eight lakh mark in India, the medicine for COVID-19 is falling short. The hospitals in Delhi and many other cities have reported shortage of Remdesivir
India has so far recorded 7,93,802 cases, which includes 21,604 deaths. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat have reported the highest number of cases.
1. COVID-19 cases in India are about to cross the 8 Lakh mark with over 21,604 deaths
The experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir has been used in India and abroad to treat symptoms of coronavirus infection leading to an acute shortage of the drug across India.
2. Antiviral drug Remdesivir has been used in India to treat coronavirus
Several cities across India, including Mumbai, Bangalore are reportedly facing a shortage of the experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir. Delhi is also struggling to source it from other cities or buying it at exorbitant prices.
3. Several cities across India including Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are facing shortages of Remdesivir
Doctors are blaming to increase in demand of the life-saving drug and limited supply of the medicine for its shortage as the cases are spiking up each day.
4. Doctors are blaming to increase in demand due to surging cases
The Union health ministry on June 13 had allowed its emergency use for treating COVID-19 patients with moderate symptoms.
5. The Union health ministry on June 13 allowed the use of Remdesivir
DCGI wrote to drug controllers of the states asking them to keep a watch on black marketeering. The medicine is unavailable at pharmacies for personal use and is sold for institutional use to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients directly.
6. The medicine is unavailable at pharmacies for personal use and is sold for institutional use to hospitals
In Delhi, both private and government hospitals have reported depleting stock of the medicine.
“There is a shortage of Remdesivir to some extent since the drug is now approved as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe [patients]... and demand has increased. We are currently managing through the inter-unit transfer of available stocks within the hospitals based on requirements." Doctors from a hospital in Delhi reported
7. Hospitals are reporting depleting stocks of Remdesivir
"We have received support and assurance of fresh supplies from the manufacturer. We understand that other manufacturers are also entering the market shortly, and hopefully, that will ease out the supply shortage to some extent,” said a Doctor
8. New manufacturers are required to produce the supply of Redesivir: Doctors
“We have not received any fresh stocks of this important drug since the beginning of this month. This could be because of having only one manufacturer across the country as of now. We are hopeful that the scenario may change by the end of this week with some more drug manufacturers joining in,” a Delhi hospital said in a statement.
9. Hospitals are not receiving fresh supplies of the medicine
In Mumbai, reports suggest that stocks of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab at Byculla Pharmacy and Stores were exhausted on July 5. However, the drug manufacturer Cipla has reportedly said that stocks will be replenished by the end of this week.
10. Mumbai is also facing a crisis in the drug supply
The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) on June 1 allowed Gilead Sciences, which holds the patent for Remdesivir, to start importing the medicine. Three Indian manufacturers – Hetero, Cipla, and Mylan-- have since been allowed to manufacture the drug in India.
11. Three Indian manufacturers Hetero,Cipla and Mylan have been allowed to manufacture the drug in India
President of the Indian Medical Association, Dr Parthiv Sanghvi said that, “The patients have increased and for this increased number we need proper supplies. The shortage of these drugs will hinder the treatment and that's why the government should intervene in the matter now,".
12 . The shortage of drugs will hinder the treatment and government must intervene: IMA
An increase in COVID-19 cases around the country has seen more doctors prescribing the drug, but supply hasn’t increased proportionately. Patients prescribed the drug are typically given six doses to be taken as injections.
13.The COVID-19 cases are increasing and the shortage of Remdesivir is making the treatment tough
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