Adequate stocks of Remedesivir and Tocilizumab available for Maharashtra

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has appointed a four-member committee from the health department with an aim to study various rapid antibody tests or kits recommended for the diagnosis of coronavirus. The committee will study the kits produced by various companies and submit a report to the government within 10 days, said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Health Guarantee Society, Dr Sudhakar Shinde is the chairman of this committee. Besides this, the board includes Dr Ranjit Mankeshwar (Dean of Grant Government Medical College) and Prof. Dr Amita Joshi. As per reports, the committee has been asked:

• To study various tests recommended by the ICMR and to recommend the use of all or selected test systems and kits in the state.

• To recommend whether these tests should be performed on the police, healthcare workers, sanitation workers, the general public or on a selected group.

• Drafting an Expression of Interest (EOI) on recommended tests and kits and submitting it to the health department.

Food and Drug Administration Minister Dr Rajendra Shingane said that adequate stocks of Remedesivir and Tocilizumab are available and the necessary planning is being done in order to make these drugs available across Maharashtra. He recently visited the Commissionerate of Food and Drug Administration in Mumbai and had a meeting with the representatives and distributors of Cipla and Hetero Healthcare in order to inquire about the availability of medicines, its distribution and the price that will be charged.

A representative of the manufacturer said that about 21,500 vials of Remedesivir will be available for Maharashtra during next week. The high demand for Tocilizumab globally has led to a shortage across the world and the distributor of the company should try to import maximum stock of this drug, added Dr Shingane. 

Due to the widespread of the virus in the country and state, there has been a huge increase in the demand for these drugs and the production is limited. Hetero Health is currently producing Remedesivir in Hyderabad and will start its production in Navsari soon. Cipla’s production of Remedesivir has started in Baroda and will start in Goa in the future, leading to an increase in the production.

These medicines are to be prescribed by the doctors only when urgent and any kind information regarding the black-marketing of the drug can be reported in the toll-free number 1800222365.