LUCKNOW: Sonam (38), admitted at the ICU of a private hospital of Lucknow with Covid-19 infection requires four vials of antiviral drug, Remdesivir. However her family has lost all hopes of getting even a single vial. Similarly, a former IRTM course director used all her resources and contacts to buy vials of Remdesivir for her retired bureaucrat father, but she, too, failed as the drug is unavailable in the state capital.

The drug which has a shelf-life of three months, earlier was priced at around Rs 3,200 to Rs 5,500, but later after government intervention its cost was brought down to Rs 1,200. However, the production of the anti-viral drug was halted or slowed down by the three leading manufacturing pharmaceutical companies presuming the fall in corona cases post December 2020.

Speaking to TOI, Suresh Kumar, the general secretary of Lucknow Medicine Wholesale Association said, “Not a single vial is available in the state capital. We are in touch with pharmaceutical companies and expect to receive consignment within two days.” Dr Prabhat Agrawal, the renowned physician and professor of medicine department, SN Medical College, Agra said, “There are a number of studies which suggest that Remdesivir is not necessarily effective in Covid-19 patients, but still it can be administered to patients who are in critical condition. The drug is either unavailable or very less in number in the UP medicine market.”

According to sources, the drug is available in black market for Rs 10,000 or more, though according to government guidelines, the drug can be bought only after showing Aadhaar and doctor’s prescription. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that Remdesivir was also out of stock in a few government hospitals. Several attempts were made to contact chief medical officer, district magistrate, chief development officer and even divisional commissioner for their comments on the acute shortage of drugs in the state capital, but none responded till this report was filed by late night.

(Patients name have changed on request)

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