New Delhi (NVI): The central government today insisted that all the drugs essential for COVID treatment are now available in India.
Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizer Mansukh Mandaviya, whose ministry oversees the pharmaceutical sector in the country, said the government is monitoring supply of each COVID-19 Essential Drug.
“All drugs used in the management of COVID-19 are now available in India by ramping up production and increasing the imports,” the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said in a statement.
The availability of these drugs is being monitored by implementing three-pronged strategy of supply chain management, demand dide management and affordability.
CDSCO and NPPA are coordinating with manufacturers to enhance production and getting data about current stock, current capacities, projected production for the May, 2021.
Number of plants producing Remdesivir increased from 20 to 60 resulting in 3 times more availability in just 25 days. The production ramped up 10 times, from 10 lakhs vials/month in April’21 to ~1 crore vials/month in May’21, the statement said.
Toscilizumab is made available in the country by importing 20 times more than what was being done in normal times.
The production of Dexamethasone 0.5 mg tablets has enhanced from 6-8 times within a month and ramped up almost 2 times, the statement read.
Enoxaparin Injection production increased 4 times in mere one month while Methyl Prednisolone injection production has increased almost three times in a months time.
Ivermectin 12 mg tablets production enhanced in the country by five times within a month from 150 lakhs in April to 770 lakhs in May, 2021, it said.
Favirpiravir, a non-protocol drug but it is used to lower the virus load, production increased 4 times within a month from 326.5 lakh in April,21 to 1644 lakh in May,21.
Amphoterecin B Injection production ramped up three times in a month. About 3.80 lakh vials are in production and 3 lakh vials are being imported, in total 6.80 lakh vials will be available in the country, the statement said.
