Maharashtra govt. drafts a plan to tackle black marketing of Remdesivir

Coronavirus cases across Maharashtra have been increasing exponentially, and the state is also facing a shortage of Remdesivir injections which, as per health experts, is important in the treatment of critical COVID-19 cases. Officials have also spoken about the black market of Remdesivir, which has raised concerns for the government at this hour. 

With an aim to control the same, the state government has taken a very important decision that will facilitate a proper supply of these injections across the districts in Maharashtra. 

As per reports, the government has decided to procure Remedesivir through tender and keeping the same in mind, Haffkine Bio Pharmaceuticals will procure the same from seven companies producing Remedesivir injections. This will be done on behalf of the government and the firm will supply the injections directly to the government hospitals. 

State Health Minister, Rajesh Tope, informed the same and added that there will be one stockist in each district to supply the injection. This process is expected to ease the supply and will help in setting the right channel for distribution, which will be completely under the control of the District Collector. 

Given the need for injections in private hospitals, they will be supplied injections by the District Collector. The COVID-19 task force in Maharashtra recently stated that if the supply is channelised, then the state might not face a shortage. Information regarding the same was shared by Minister Tope.

A few weeks back, the state observed a sharp decrease in the number of coronavirus patients and the firms had reduced the production of Remdesivir injections. But the surge in the last few days has added to the worries, and the number of patients with COVID-19 infection has increased exponentially, especially in Maharashtra. Observing this, the black marketeers of the injections have started stockpiling Remdesivir and are selling injections at inflated prices. The government has drafted the plan with an aim to take strict action against them.