Exclusive-India s most populous state to spend up to $1.36 billion on COVID shots amid shortage
By Krishna N. Das
Reuters
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India s most populous state will spend up to $1.36 billion to buy COVID-19 shots and held early talks this week with companies such as Pfizer and the local partner of the maker of Russia s Sputnik V, a state official said on Thursday.
The move by Uttar Pradesh, home to more people than Brazil, comes as many Indian states curtail vaccinations due to severe shortages amid a record surge in coronavirus infections, with India recording more than 4,000 deaths for a second straight day as its health system fails to cope.
ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ 9 ਲੱਖ ਮਰੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਗੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਆਕਸੀਜਨ: ਵਰਧਨ punjabitribuneonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from punjabitribuneonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Reuters Reuters
28 April, 2021, 2:11 pm
FILE PHOTO: An ampule of Remdesivir is pictured during a news conference at the University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, Germany, April 8, 2020, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. Ulrich Perrey/Pool via REUTERS
(Reuters) – U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co joined Gilead Sciences on Tuesday in lending support to India as the world’s second-most populous country scrambles to address drug shortages and bring a raging new wave of COVID-19 cases under control.
Gilead said it would give India at least 450,000 vials of its antiviral drug remdesivir, while Merck said it was partnering with five Indian generic drugmakers to expand production and access to its experimental COVID-19 drug molnupiravir.
Gilead Sciences Inc said on Monday it will give India at least 450,000 vials of its antiviral drug remdesivir and help boost production, as the world s second-most populous country reels from surging coronavirus cases. Remdesivir is approved in India for restricted emergency use to treat severe COVID-19 cases, but hospitals are facing supply shortages due to indiscriminate use and the drug is being sold at over 10 times its listed price in the black market. The shortage has raised concerns about hoarding as people queue up outside clinics and hospitals to buy the drug and millions take to social media to secure supplies.
Gilead to ship 450,000 remdesivir vials to India as virus cases surge
Gilead Sciences Inc said on Monday it will give India at least 450,000 vials of its antiviral drug remdesivir and help boost production, as the world’s second-most populous country reels from surging coronavirus cases.
Remdesivir is approved in India for restricted emergency use to treat severe COVID-19 cases, but hospitals are facing supply shortages due to indiscriminate use and the drug is being sold at over 10 times its listed price in the black market, reports Reuters.
The shortage has raised concerns about hoarding as people queue up outside clinics and hospitals to buy the drug and millions take to social media to secure supplies.