New Delhi (NVI): The central government today said the production of Remdesivir drug, prescribed for Covid patients, has been ramped up 10 times since April and hence its supply to the states would be discontinued.
Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya, whose ministry is in charge of the pharmaceutical sector, said the production of Remdesivir has increased from 33,000 vials/day on 11th April 2021 to 3,50,000 vials/day today.
The government has also increased the number of plants producing Remdesivir from 20 to 60 plants within a month, he said, according to an official release.
Now the country has enough Remdesivir as the supply is much more than the demand, he said, adding “Government has decided to discontinue the Central Allocation of Remdesivir to States.”
The Minister has directed the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Agency and CDSCO to continuously monitor the availability of Remdesivir in the country, the release said.
The government of India has also decided to procure 50 lakh vials of Remdesivir to maintain it as a strategic stock for the emergency requirement, he added.
The country saw an enormous shortage of Remdesivir when the Covid-19 cases surged hugely in the second half of last month and early this month. Amidst high demand and short supplies, there were many reports of the drug being hoarded and sold at exorbitant prices, like more than 10 times the cost of the medicine.
