* First Consignment of 75000 vials to reach today
The
Government of India has started importing the vital drug Remdesivir
from other countries to ease out the shortage of Remdesivir in the
country. The first Consignment of 75000 vials will reach India today.
HLL
Lifecare Ltd, a Government of India owned company has ordered 4,50,000
vials of Remdesivir from M/s Gilead Sciences Inc USA. and Egyptian
Pharma Company, M/s Eva Pharma. It is expected that Gilead Sciences
Inc. USA will dispatch 75,000 to 1,00,000 vials in the next one or two
days. Further one hundred thousand quantities will also be supplied
before or by May 15. EVA pharma will supply approximately 10,000 vials
initially followed by 50,000 vials every 15 days or till July.
Government
has ramped up the production capacity of Remdesivir in the country. As
on 27.04.21, the production capacity of the seven licensed domestic
manufacturers increased from 38 lakh vials per month to 1.03 crore vials
per month. Total 13.73 lakh vials have been supplied across the country
by the Drug companies in the last seven days (21-28 April, 2021). The
daily supply has gone up from 67,900 vials on 11th April to 2.09 lakh
vials on 28th April, 2021. An advisory was issued by MHA to states and
UTs to facilitate smooth movement of Remdesivir supplies.
Government
also prohibited the export of Remdesivir to enhance its availability in
India. To ensure affordability of the injection among the masses, NPPA
on April 17, 2021 released the revised maximum retail price thus
bringing down the cost of all the major brands to below Rs 3500 per
vial.
In
order to facilitate higher production and availability of Remdesivir,
the Department of Revenue vide Notification 27/2021-Customs dated 20th
April exempted the whole of the duty of Customs on Remdesivir
injection, its API and Beta cyclodextrin used in manufacture of
Remdesivir, till 31st October 2021.
National
Treatment Protocol was updated through the Clinical guidance for
Management of Adult COVID 19 patients by AIIMS/ ICMR- COVID-19 National
Task Force/ Joint Monitoring group of MoHFW on 22.04.2021. The updated
protocol will encourage Judicious use of Drugs and is expected to
contribute to rationalising demand.