Centre to allocate Remdesivir to states for 10 days

NEW DELHI: With the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country leading to high demand for Remdesivir, the Centre has worked out a schedule for allocation of the drug for a period of 10 days starting from Wednesday. Since the drug is used in patients on oxygen support, the allocation of Remdesivir will be based on oxygen allocation carried out by the Empowered Group-2 to various states, the government said on Tuesday.
The Centre has asked all states to ensure judicious use of Remdesivir as per clinical management protocol for Covid- 19. States have also been asked to conduct campaigns to address possible black marketing or hoarding of drugs used in Covid treatment and also facilitate smooth and unimpeded movement of drugs, including interstate supplies.
Due to the surge in Covid 19 cases, the demand for Remdesivir has grown rapidly with reported shortages. Considering the same, the department of pharma and the health ministry have undertaken an exercise to work out Remdesivir allocation to states based on an objective criteria.
“The position will be reviewed after a few days. For states for which oxygen allocation was not made, Remdesivir allocation will also be made shortly,” the health ministry said. Used for treating Ebola, the antiviral drug Remdesivir is an ‘investigation drug’ that has shown efficacy in the treatment of Covid cases.