New Delhi: The Himalayan nation, a long held ally rather protectee of India, resorted to anti-India rhetoric recently, apparently at the behest of expansionist China. Tension at border after Nepali troops fired at villages on Indian side of the border also raised hackles.
However, in times of crisis, it’s India which has come to its rescue. As Nepal battles Coronavirus pandemic amid shortage of drugs, it has relied on India for supply of essential medicines.
3 Indian pharmaceutical companies have started supplying Nepal with life-saving anti-viral Remdesivir to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“We have confirmed three companies for supply of Remdesivir. Mylan, Cipla, and Hetero Drugs will be supplying the drugs as per our demands. We will be permitting the use of anti-viral supplied on by these companies only,” Narayan Prasad Dhakal, the Director-General of Department of Drug Administration confirmed.
“Among them, Mylan has started supplying the anti-viral to Nepal. At first, we have ordered 570 vials of it and has been delivered. Indian companies are easy to reach and the cost also comes low so we confirmed them,” he added.
Remdeisivir has turned out to be life-saving drug
Remdesivir has been proved to be efficient for patients who have been put in the Intensive Care Unit and take them out of danger zone but wasn’t available in the Himalayan nation.
“It would cost around 7,800 Nepali rupees per vial when it comes to the Nepali market. It would save extra expenses of the family,” DG Dhakal said.
Nepal’s Medical Council’s directive (Interim Clinical Guidance for COVID-19) also has enlisted Remdesivir drug for the primary medication. Family of the patients who were in critical condition had to bring it from India under special arrangements but with availability on the local market, it will save on their expenses.
As per the Director-General of the Department of Drug Administration of the Himalayan nation, it is always the Indian companies who race forward to export drugs and pharmaceuticals to the nation.
