Amid concerns over the shortage of Remdesivir in public hospitals in Maharashtra, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said people in need of the anti-viral drug need not panic as the allotment of 75 per cent of the first supply has started in Mumbai.

Speaking to India Today TV, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said the drug will be given for free to patients in need at public hospitals in Mumbai.

“For the Mumbai Metropolitan Regions (MMR) like Thane, hospitals will have to purchase the drug at tender prices.” The 25 per cent of the first batch of new supply has hence been kept separate with the BMC.

On allegations of black marketing of Remdesivir, the BMC Commissioner said the civic body was keeping a close eye on the matter and will take action wherever necessary.

“Every hospital will have to provide online details of patients in need to get the supply. Once these details are checked, the drug will be given. They cannot purchase the drug in bulk. There isn’t unlimited supply as of now so the drug has to be given with caution,” the BMC Commissioner said.

Cabinet minister Jitendra Awhad, meanwhile, tweeted on Tuesday: “The non-availability of two imp life saving drugs #Tocilizumab and #remdesivir is creating panic amongst patients and relatives and leading to deaths @PMOIndia plz c that it is available in market for those who need. Black marketing should b stopped (sic)”

The non-availability of two imp life saving drugs #Tocilizumab and #remdesivir is creating panic amongst patients and relatives and leading to deaths @PMOIndia plz c that it is available in market for those who need
Black marketing should b stopped

— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) July 7, 2020

Private hospitals, meanwhile, will have to purchase Remdesivir from the BMC at tender prices. The BMC Commissioner said 25 per cent of the present quota is with the BMC Health Services Director. He added that the stock is open for purchase.

In the wake of Remdesivir’s shortage, many have slammed the state government and the BMC, saying their claims aren’t helping Covid patients in need of the injection, touted as a life saving drug.

“Got over 100 requests today, everybody in need of Remdesivir. I’ve been told that BMC hospitals have got the vials today but the private hospitals haven’t. Every request we get we call every hospital & distributor to help save a life. Something needs to be done,”

Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique tweeted as he tagged Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Social media is also full of stories regarding difficulties faced by people in getting the life-saving drug for critical Covid patients.

After using some influential contacts one can able to secure two doses of Ramdesvir
In black market #Mumbai Remdesvir was being quoted at Rs 30,000 per 100 mg vial almost 6 times the retail price of the drug manufactured by Hetero#Delhi too, running Remdesivir shortage#COVID19

— Abhijit Chatterjee (@abhijitc4) July 6, 2020

The BMC has ordered for more than 15,000 vials for government hospitals from Hyderabad-based pharmacutical company Hetero healthcare. Hetero Pharma has said it has the approval from The Drug Controller General of India. So far, the company has distributed 20,000 vials in India.

While Cipla has priced the drug at Rs 4,000 per 100 mg vial, Hetero has priced it at Rs 5,400. Sources added that to the BMC, Hetero is supplying the drug at Rs 4,144 per vial.

Hetero has set a target to produce one lakh vials of the drug by mid-July.

BMC officials said that the manufacturing of the anti-viral drug is a complex process and hence the production is taking some time.

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