Efforts to ensure availability of Remdesivir in India
A lab technician holds the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment drug “Remdesivir” at Eva Pharma Facility in Cairo. © Reuters
Department of Pharmaceuticals intensified monitoring of availability, production and supply of drugs used for Covid-19 Treatment in early April 2021 as the number of cases of Covid-19 started increasing steeply. Remdesivir is a patented drug, manufactured in India under voluntary licenses granted by Gilead Life Sciences USA, the patent holder, to 7 Indian pharmaceutical companies (Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Lab., Hetero, Jubilant Pharma, Mylan, Syngene and Zydus Cadila).
To augment the domestic production capacity, all the seven domestic licensed manufacturers of Remdesivir were asked to ramp up production quickly. With combined efforts of the central government and the manufacturing companies, the production capacity of the licensed manufacturers has increased unprecedentedly from 38 lakh vials per month to nearly 119 lakh vials per month. With the accelerated approval of 38 additional manufacturing sites, the number of approved manufacturing sites of Remdesivir in the country has increased from 22 sites to 60 sites. With the help of the Ministry of External Affairs, the manufacturers of Remdesivir are being facilitated for getting supplies of requisite raw materials and equipment from foreign countries.
All efforts are being made to enhance the availability of the drug both through imports as well as augmented domestic production. Exports of Remdesiver has been prohibited since 11th April 2021. Customs duty has been exempted on Remdesivir injection, Remdesivir API and Beta Cyclodextrin (SBEBCD) used in the manufacture of Remdesivir with effect from 20th April 2021.
Looking to the suddenly increased demand in the country, to ensure equitable distribution of Remdesivir among different regions of the country, the central government has been making allocations to States and UTs since the third week of April. Interim allocation of 11 lakh vials was made for 19 states and UTs with high demand on 21 April 2021 for the period up to 30 April. This allocation was increased to 16 lakh vials on 24 April as more supplies became available and all States and UTs were allocated the vials. In a series of allocations issued subsequently, with the latest allocation issued on 16th May, 76 lakh vials in total have been allocated among States for the period up to 23rd May 2021.
The state governments and UTs have been asked to monitor proper distribution within their jurisdiction covering both governments as well as private hospitals and in line with judicious use as advised in the “National Clinical Guidance for management of adult Covid-19 patients” issued jointly by AIIMS/ICMR Covid-19 National Task Force and Joint Monitoring Group of MoHFW. State Governments / UTs have been advised to place adequate purchase orders with the marketing companies immediately for the quantity that they want to purchase out of allocation for the State/ UT as per supply plan in close coordination with liaison officers of the companies. The coordination with private distribution channel in the state is also to be made by the States. The State governments have also been advised to put in place a mechanism for the issuance of this drug to needy patients and well advertise it among the public in the State.
All the seven Indian manufacturers have been making supplies to States based on the allocation both against government purchase orders and through their private distribution channels in States. Total 54.15 lakh vials of Remdesivir have been supplied across the country by the Drug companies during the 21st April-15th May 2021 period. Supply of Remdesivir to Various State Governments and central Institutions is continuously being monitored and whenever any complaint regarding supply is received, it is taken up immediately with the concerned manufacturer. Department of Pharmaceuticals, through National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA), is in constant touch with all the States through their Nodal officers and manufacturing companies through their Liaison Officers.
In addition to the allocation mentioned above, as of 16.05.2021, a total of 5.26 lakh vials of Remdesivir, which have been received through a donation from other countries/organizations and 40000 vials which have been commercially imported, have also been allocated to States and UTs.
availability of Remdesivir in India, Remdesivir injection, Remdesivir API, Beta Cyclodextrin (SBEBCD), Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Lab., Hetero, Jubilant Pharma, Mylan, Syngene and Zydus Cadila
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