State to face shortage of Remdesivir for 2-3 days: FDA Minister Dr Rajendra Shingne

Dr Rajendra Shingne, state FDA minister

Maharashtra will face a shortage of 12,000 to 15,000 Remdesivir injections, used to treat COVID-19 patients, for the next two to three days, state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Dr Rajendra Shingne said on Friday.

He said pharma companies manufacturing Remdesivir have stepped up production but it will take time for the new stock to reach the market.

Speaking to reporters he said, "Companies that produce the Remdesivir injection have increased their production but it will take some time for the vials to hit the market. If we consider a 10-12 per cent shortage, Maharashtra will continue to face a shortage of 12,000 to 15,000 Remdesivir vials for the next two to three days."

Blaming companies for the delay in supply of the much sought-after COVID-19 drug, the FDA minister said, "The heads of Remdesivir-making companies had 15 days ago assured me of a supply of around 55,000 vials. However, till April 15, these companies could provide only 37,000 to 39,000 vials." "I held a video conference meeting with the CEOs and MDs of some of the companies that produce Remdesivir on Friday again. These companies have now assured me that supply will be streamlined from April 19 onwards," he said. He lauded the Centre's move to ban the export of Remdesivir. "Ready stocks of Remdesivir (which were bound for shipments abroad) are available even in Maharashtra. Some of the company representatives met me with a proposal of allowing these stocks to be sold in Maharashtra," Shingne said.

"Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has also issued orders allowing export-bound stocks to be sold in the state (following the ban). I do not know how many such vials are available (with companies)," he said.

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