New Delhi (NVI): In order to contain the coronavirus surge in the country, the central government today approved seven new sites to ramp up the production of Remdesivir, a drug used to treat COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the issue of availability of Remdesivir was reviewed by Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State, For Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Independent Charge) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in meetings with the all-existing manufacturers of the Remdesivir drug and other stakeholders on 12th and 13th March 2021, where decisions have been taken to increase production/supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir.
“The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month. Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 10 Lakh vials per month to six manufacturers. Another 30 lakh vials per month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials per month,” it said.
As an additional measure, Remdesivir, API and formulation were placed under Export ban on April 11, 2021 by DGFT to increase the supply of Remdesivir in the Domestic Market.
On Government intervention, Remdesivir supplies of approximately 4 lakh vials meant for Export is being diverted by manufacturers to fulfil domestic requirement. EOU/SEZ units are also being enabled to supply to the domestic market.
Manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week, to support the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Fight against COVID, Manufactures of Remdesivir have been directed to give priority to fulfil hospital/institutional level supplies.
Meanwhile, enforcement authorities of states and central government have been directed by DCGI to take immediate action on incidence of black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is continuously monitoring the availability of Remdesivir.
–PRT
