From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 16: As many as 6.69 lac vials of Remdesivir injections, which are essential in the treatment of Covid patients, have been supplied to different states during the last five days, union minister for chemicals and fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda said on Friday.
Gowda, who is also holding charge of the pharmaceutical department, held a meeting with union minister of state for chemical and fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya, union pharmaceutical department secretary S Aparna, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NCPA) chairperson Subhra Singh, Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) Dr V G Somai, private secretary Subhod Kumar and other senior officials, on the availability, production and distribution of corona drugs.
Issuing a statement to the media in New Delhi after the meeting, the union minister said Remdesivir production will be increased from the present 28.63 lac vials of injections to 41 lac vials this month.
He said as many as seven pharmaceutical companies have the licences for producing Remdesivir injections, which is one of the major drugs used in the treatment of Covid positive patients.
The minister the production capacity of Remdesivir injections in the country was 38.8 lac per month vials so far. It will be enhanced by another 10 lac vials. In addition, the Centre has banned the export of Remdesivir, which is another reason for increasing the availability of Remdesivir injections in the country.
Gowda said the Centre’s intervention in the Remdesivir distribution and the increased production capacity has resulted in lowering the price from the present Rs 5,400 to Rs 3,500.
The Centre has directed the pharmaceutical companies to accord priority in the supply of Remdesivir vials to hospitals and institutions besides checking illegal hoarding and black-marketing at higher prices.
The minister the production of the vaccines for the Covid 19 pandemic was going on in accordance with the government’s projections. The import of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, will accelerate and enhance the availability of vaccines in the country, he added.