Nagpur: In a revised order issued by the district collector on Tuesday, the Covid hospitals having payment code with the agent have been asked to collect their quota from the company's dealer directly while the share earlier alloted to them was diverted to others through different distributors.
Earlier, district collector’s initiative to ensure smooth supply of anti-viral drug Remdesivir to Covid hospitals through distributors and stockists was derailed after one of the agencies of a pharmaceutical company failed to comply with the order owing to technical reasons.
Several hospitals ran out of Remdesivir stock even after making hefty payments, as one of the agencies selected for supplying the drug could not release the vials as no payment codes were generated owing to no prior transactions with the agency. As the technical issue crept in, the hospital managements started clamouring for Remdesivir stock warranting an emergency intervention from the collector’s office.
Sources in the distribution channel pointed out that in a few cases, Remdesivir stocks allotted to some hospitals were not claimed by the recipients. But, the stock could not be diverted to other hospitals due to the collector’s strict orders.
Collector Ravindra Thakare had issued an order a couple of days ago urging distributors and stockists to deliver Remdesivir directly to Covid hospitals after collecting them from the carrying and forwarding agents of the pharmaceutical companies supplying the injections. The distribution was expected to get smoother with this, but the payments issue cropped up a fresh challenge. Late arrival of the stocks also has been a reason for the delayed allotment and distribution, say sources.
“An officer of deputy collector rank had to rush to the agent and convince him to sort out the technical issue at the earliest and start distribution of Remdesivir to Covid hospitals,” said a senior official from the collector’s office.
Meanwhile, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has requested central authorities to allow more manufacturers to bring the product in the market.