BGH presses panic button over shortage of Remdesivir

Bokaro: An acute shortage of Remdesivir, arguably one of the most effective medications available for treatment of Covid-19 until now, has led the authorities of Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) to approach the district administration and the health department for urgent supplies.
Sources in the hospital said ever since it was marked as a Covid hospital four months ago, there has been no supply from the government. BGH has also requested Steel Authority of India Limited, its parent company, to provide Remdesivir for its employees.
Bokaro civil surgeon Dr A K Pathak on Thursday said, “BGH has requested the district health department to provide the drug urgently amid a spike in the number of cases. We have received a letter from them. I have forwarded their plea to the state health department who assured us to provide it as soon as they receive stocks.”
Bokaro till Wednesday received a total of 370 cases of which 213 are still active while two patients succumbed to the virus.
For critical patients, Remdesivir is proving to be life-saving drug. Recently two covid patients, including a doctor whose condition deteriorated, were administered Remdesivir at BGH. Sources said the drug is helping them recover; however, it is costlier and difficult for the common man to afford.
A BGH official said, “Government has not provided a single dose of Remdesivir to BGH. It is not sold in the open market either. The state government should provide it to BGH as critical Covid-19 patients are being treated here.”