Govt. monitoring supply of COVID-19 essential drugs
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Govt. monitoring supply of COVID-19 essential drugs

Availability of drugs is being monitored by implementing a three-pronged strategy of supply chain management, demand side management, and affordability.

  • By IPP Bureau | May 21, 2021

The government is monitoring supply of each COVID-19 essential drug and all drugs are available, says Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya. 

All drugs used in the management of COVID-19 are now available in India by ramping up production and increasing the imports. The availability of these drugs is being monitored by implementing a three-pronged strategy of supply chain management, demand side management, and affordability. 

The government is monitoring drugs - Remdesivir, Enoxaparin, Methylprednisolone, Dexamethasone, Tocilizumab, and Ivermectin and Non-protocol drugs - Favipiravir, Amphotericin, and Apixaban. CDSCO and NPPA are coordinating with manufacturers to enhance production and getting data about current stock, current capacities, and projected production for the month of May 2021. 

Remdesivir: Number of plants producing Remdesivir increased from 20 to 60 resulting in 3 times more availability in just 25 days. Production ramped up 10 times, from 10 lakhs vials/month in April 2021 to around 1 crore/month in May 2021. 

Toscilizumab Injection: Made available in the country by importing 20 times more than what was being done in normal times. 

Dexamethasone 0.5 mg Tablets: Production enhanced from 6-8 times within a month. Enoxaparin Injection production increased 4 times in one month. 

Methylprednisolone Injection: Production increased almost 3 times in a month's time. Ivermectin 12 mg tab production was enhanced in the country by around 5 times within a month from 150 lakhs in April to 770 lakhs in May,2021. 

Dexamethasone: A non-protocol drug but it is used to lower the virus load. The production increased 4 times within a month from 326.5 lakh in April 2021 to 1,644 lakh in May 2021. 

Amphoterecin B Injection: Production ramped up around 3 times in a month. 3.80 lakh vials are in production and 3 lakh vials are being imported. Total 6.80 lakh vials will be available in the country.

 

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