New Delhi: Even as the nation fights Covid-19 pandemic, reports have emerged that black marketers have taken over the supply chain of Covid-19 drug Remdesivir, making it a money-spinning machine while putting life of Corona patients at risk.
According to reports, the drug which costs Rs 4,000 is being sold at 7-10 times its price. The rampant marketing has seen price of Covid drug being pushed to even Rs 60,000.
Once such news of overpricing of Covid-19 floated on social media, it shocked one and all as to how the life-saving drug has become a tool for drug racketeers.
Hospitals short of medicine, racketeers mint money
A leading daily yesterday reported that crowds of people queued up for hours outside a medicine store in Ghatkopar (Mumbai) for a doze of Remdesivir and Tocilizamab. Both cost Rs 4,000 and Rs 40,000 per vial but its illegal hoarding skyrocketed its price to Rs 20,000 to Rs 70,000 per vial.
Astonishingly, the hospitals in the city ran short of these drugs while the racketeers minted money by illegal trade of this Covid-19 drug.
Govt cracks down on black marketeers
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that strict action will be taken against those involved in black marketing of Remdesivir and other medicine which are useful to treat COVID-19 patients.
While speaking to the reporters Deshmukh said, “We have held a discussion with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Dr Rajendra Shingne about curbing the black marketing of Remdesivir and other drugs needed to treat COVID-19 patients.”
“Remdesiver injections will be available in large amount by Cipla and Hetero. The state government has initiated the process of purchasing the drug to make it available in hospitals across the state,” he said.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) also directed all three pharma giants–Cipla, Hetero, and Mylan to upload the details of anti-viral Remedsivir drug’s supply on the firm’s website respectively.
