Govt seeks Covid drug’s stock info to curb overcharging

NEW DELHI: The health ministry has asked the three companies — Hetero, Cipla and Mylan — making generic versions of Covid-19 drug Remdesivir in India to regularly give details of production, stocks and sales in the wake of complaints of shortage-driven blackmarketing and overcharging.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) that regulates availability and quality of medicines sold here has also asked states to instruct their enforcement officers to keep a strict vigil on supply and sale of the drug, officials said.
Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, is allowed under emergency use authorisation and can be considered for treatment of Covid-19 patients with moderate disease (those on oxygen).
The warning comes after social media platform Local-Circles in a letter to the health ministry said many citizens on its platform have flagged the issue of alleged blackmarketing of Remdesivir.
“The MRP of Remdesivir marketed by Hetero Healthcare Limited is Rs 5,400 but consumers have reported it being sold at a price of anywhere between Rs 15,000 to 60,000,” LocalCircles said.
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) V G Somani, in communication to states, said his office has received a letter raising concerns that unscrupulous persons were indulging in blackmarketing and over-pricing of the drug. “Action taken in the matter may be intimated to this office at the earliest,” Somani said.