Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 4

The government on Tuesday said there had been a three-fold increase in the production of the most sought after Remdesivir, as it also claimed that COVID-19 supplies received from the global community have effectively been allocated and medical infrastructure of 38 institutions across 31 States/UTs have been strengthened.

The Minister of State (MoD) for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviaya said, the production of Remdesivir has gone up nearly three times to 1.05 crore vials per month as the government has been working hard to enhance the availability of the antiviral drug in the country.

In a series of tweets the Minister said the production capacity of the drug has crossed “1.05 crore vials per month as on May 4, which is nearly a three-fold increase from 37 lakh vials per month on April 12 this year”. He went on to add that the antiviral drug is now being produced across 57 plants in the country compared to 20 facilities a month ago and “soon, we will be able to cater to increase in demand”.

Mandaviya also noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is trying hard to fight the CIVID-19 pandemic.

Keeping in view the high demand for Remdesivir amid a massive spike in COVID infections, the government has already waived customs duty on the drug, its raw materials and other components used to make it.

Meanwhile, the government also claimed that a streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation of the COVID-19 support supplies received by India from the overseas donors has been put into place for effective distribution across the country.

In an official statement it said, “The global community has extended a helping hand in supporting the efforts of the Government of India in this collective fight against the global COVID19 pandemic. Medical equipment, medicines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators etc., are being provided by many countries.”

The customs department has been fast tracking clearances of COVID related imports including oxygen and oxygen related equipment and giving precedence to such items over other goods, as nodal officers at different checkpoints get alert on email for monitoring and clearance.

“A cell was created under Additional Secretary in the ministry of health to coordinate the receipt and allocation of foreign COVID relief material as grants, aid and donations,” it said.