TN sells remdesivir at KMC to keep in check illegal sale of drug

TN sells remdesivir at KMC to keep in check illegal sale of drug

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  27.04.2021 

Bogged down by complaints of patients being forced to buy the anti-viral remdesivir for a high price in the black market, the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, on Monday opened a counter at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for sale of the drug at ₹1,565 (including GST) per dose. The move would also help check unwarranted use of the drug.

Attenders or relatives of Covid-19 patients can buy the drug from the counter after showing four documents – patient’s Aadhaar card, RTPCR positive report, a copy of the chest CT report and a doctor’s prescription for the drug.

Patients requiring oxygen support are prescribed six doses of the injection as part of Covid-19 management. By afternoon on Monday, at least 40 doses of the drug were sold at the counter.

Other than the public, hospitals too can purchase the drug from TNMSC by producing patient records and other relevant documents. “Government hospitals have stock of the drug. Since there is a shortage, we are selling the drugs to hospitals on a case-tocase basis, based on the medical condition of patients. We tell hospitals not to inflate the medicine cost on patient bills,” said TNMSC medical director Dr P Umanath. “ICMR guideline says remdesivir is to be given to oxygen-dependent patients, whose lungs are affected. People meeting the conditions can buy the drug,” he said.

The injectable antiviral, used to treat Ebola virus, is now widely used to prevent replication of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Ten days ago, many hospitals called the corporation with requests for remdesivir as they ran out of stock. Earlier this month, the Centre banned export of remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredient until further orders. The drug controller general (India), V G Somani, has asked all manufacturers of the antiviral to send stocks to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat immediately “in light of concerns regarding availability in major states dealing with Covid 19 cases.”

State health minister C Vijayabaskar said this diversion led to delay of stocks to many states including Tamil Nadu. He also said the state will help hospitals and patients on a case-to-case basis.

KEEPING THINGS IN LINE