Union Government allocates supply of Remdesivir to 19 States/UTs with High Burden of COVID cases
Manufacturers mapped to States to smoothen the Supply Chain
NPPA and the National Regulator to monitor movement and demand
By PIB Delhi
Various steps have been taken by Government of India to address the emerging issues for effective management of the recent unprecendented spike in COVID19 cases across various States and UTs. These pro-active measures taken by the Union Government under a ‘whole of government’ are also being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
The escalation of serious COVID19 patients in hospitals for effective clinical management has also resulted in anincrease in the demand of Remdesivir. While the States have been advised to promote judicious use of the drug which is listed as an Investigational Therapy by the Health Ministry, they have also been advised to take action against possible hoarding and black marketing of the drug.
Keeping in mind the sudden surge in demand in the country for Remdesivir Injection required for Covid-19 therapy, the manufacturing capacity of domestic Remdesivir manufacturers has been ramped up. All support is being extended to manufacturers by the government in this endeavour. The production capacity is being ramped up from current level of 38 lakh vials per month to 74 lakh vials per month, and 20 additional manufacturing sites have been approved. Export of Remdesivir has also been prohibited on 11th April,2021 in order to shore up domestic supplies.
To further address reports of shortages in certain regions of the country and facilitate smooth inter-state supply of Remdesivir, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in coordination with Department of Pharmaceuticals has made an interim allocation of Remdesivir for 19 States/UTs for the period up to 30th April, 2021.
Remdesivir being an investigational therapy drug given in acute and severe versions of COVID-19 where oxygen support is a must, this allocation pertains to 14 States to which medical oxygen is allocated and 5 other states where the high volume of supplies are being observed.State-wise Allocation of Remdesivir for 21st to 30th April S No. States under O2 Allocation Guidance on Allocation Zydus Cadila Hetero Mylan Cipla Syngene / Sun Jubilant Dr. Reddys Total Allocation 1 Chhattisgarh 48,250 16,000 20,000 9,000 2,000 1,250 48,250 2 Delhi 61,825 20,400 22,000 4,000 5,000 7,500 3,000 61,900 3 Gujarat 163,559 120,000 14,500 15,000 8,000 5,000 1,000 163,500 4 Haryana 29,441 20,000 4,000 3,000 2,500 29,500 5 Andhra Pradesh 58,881 18,000 30,000 5,000 6,000 59,000 6 Karnataka 25,352 17,400 1,000 6,000 1,000 25,400 7 Kerala 16,192 1,000 – 11,100 1,000 3,000 16,100 8 Madhya Pradesh 92,411 15,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 6,000 10,000 1,400 92,400 9 Maharashtra 269,218 50,000 50,000 32,000 92,400 23,000 16,000 5,800 269,200 10 Punjab 13,412 4,000 2,000 2,400 3,000 2,000 13,400 11 Rajasthan 26,169 10,000 1,000 10,000 3,000 2,500 26,500 12 Tamil Nadu 58,881 20,000 14,400 19,000 5,000 500 58,900 13 Uttar Pradesh 122,833 50,000 22,000 11,000 11,000 4,800 24,000 122,800 14 Uttarakhand 13,575 7,000 – 1,500 5,000 13,500 Total 1,000,000 292,400 212,900 184,400 163,500 55,700 67,000 24,450 1,000,350 States not under O2 allocation – – 15 Telangana 21,551 9,000 9,000 500 3,000 21,500 16 West Bengal 27,321 10,000 7,500 1,000 3,500 2,400 1,000 2,000 27,400 17 Odisha 11,107 1,000 4,500 1,600 1,500 2,500 11,100 18 Bihar 24,604 14,000 6,500 1,000 2,000 1,000 24,500 19 Jharkhand 15,417 10,000 1,650 500 2,000 1,000 15,150 Total 100,000 35,000 29,150 13,100 9,000 2,400 6,000 5,000 99,650 Grand Total 1,100,000 327,400 242,050 197,500 172,500 58,100 73,000 29,450 1,100,000
The allocation includes bulk purchases made by the States as well as supplies through private distribution channels. This initial allocation is dynamic and will be reviewed constantly in consultation with the States, to ensure all needs can be met within the available supplies.
- All States not covered by the above-mentioned allocation will be considered for allocation when their supply orders are placed with the manufacturers.
- The manufacturers have been advised to consider supply orders already made to them, geographical proximity with a State and terms of supply and give inputs for mapping of manufacturers to states for the allocated volumes. Resultant mapping is attached herewith.
- Manufacturers have been directed to manufacture and dispatch the supplies as per the agreed State allocation and mapping. They may be asked to balance supplies to the Government and distribution channel.
- All States may place their supply orders to manufacturers, if not already done, either by Government purchase or distribution channel, within the above-mentioned State-wise allocation and manufacturer-wise mapping.
- In case any State does not require or is unable to fully utilize its allocation before 30th April, that would be available for reallocation to other States as per their requirement.
- The States may immediately appoint State Nodal officers for Remdesivir who will be responsible for unrestricted and timely movement of Remdesivir within their States as per the above-mentioned allocation and mapping.
- Control Room set up by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) shall be responsible for monitoring the operations as per the allocations. A Whatsapp group comprising Nodal officers of States to coordinate unhindered movement of Remdesivir within the country is being created. Liaison Officers of the Remdesivir manufacturers and officials of Ministry of Home Affairs, Dept of Pharmaceuticals, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) would be part of this Group for day to day monitoring and coordination.