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During COVID 19 second wave in India, a number of people are seen hunting for oxygen cylinders, ICU beds and many more medical facilities across the country. Remdesivir is also one of the drugs many have been searching for their loved ones. So what is Remdesivir? Is this a life saving COVID 19 drug? Should it be given to every coronavirus positive patient? Can Remdesivir be given to COVID patients treated at home? Know all about it here:
According to an infographic video shared by PIB fact check, a verified Twitter account by the government of India to counter misinformation on govt. policies/schemes, Remdesivir is an experimental investigational drug that is granted for emergency authorisation use only. It is advisable for people who are moderately sick and are receiving oxygen. Furthermore, studies do not show mortality reduction with this drug. Moreover, Remdesivir is to be administered in hospitals settings only
Interview: ‘Remdesivir doesn’t save lives – but desperate families demand that doctors prescribe it’
An interview with Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist at Mumbai’s PD Hinduja Hospital. A queue for remdesivir outside the Chemists Association office in Pune on April 9. | AFP
Crowds of people outside pharmacies hoping to buy doses of the antiviral drug remdesivir have been among the defining images of the second wave of Covid-19 infections in India. The drug was earlier manufactured to treat Ebola and then repurposed to treat Covid-19. Concerns remain that remdesivir, which has been shown to be ineffective in large randomised controlled trials, is being overprescribed.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray (left) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. | PMO India/Twitter
Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office claimed that Uddhav Thackeray had contacted the Prime Minister’s Office about the acute shortage of medical oxygen and antiviral drug remdesivir, but was told that Modi was campaigning in West Bengal, reported
Fress Press Journal and India Today on Saturday. The fifth phase of voting is underway for the West Bengal Assembly elections.
There has been no response from Modi regarding the allegations, but Union minister Piyush Goyal has rejected the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office’s statement.
Around 280 metric tonnes of oxygen are required in Mumbai alone, as the demand has been rising with the increase in Covid-19 infections, according to India Today.
Updated Apr 14, 2021 | 19:07 IST
Seven manufacturers of Remdesivir will almost double production capability to 78 lakh vials per month. Manufactueres have volunteered to reduce the price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week Remdesivir manufacturers to double production, reduce price to Rs 3,500 | Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the issue of availability of Remdesivir, used in treating patients of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, with all existing manufacturers of the drug. It was decided that the production of antiviral drug will be ramped up and prices will be reduced. The decision comes amid widespread reports of shortage and black-marketeering of the drug.