Sell Remdesivir locally: AISSF to Union Govt

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Amritsar, April 29

Taking cognisance of an Amritsar-based pharmaceutical firm Kwality Pharmaceutical Ltd, which urged the Union Ministry of Health to allow it to supply the much sought-after Remdesivir injections in domestic market, the All-India Sikh Students’ Federation (AISSF) has urged the Central Government to provide a temporary relief to the Indian drug manufacturers by exempting them from patent rights during the health emergency in India, so that the precious lives of patients can be saved.

“What can be described as a biased approach by the Health Ministry is that the Amritsar-based firm can supply the much sought-after drug to meet the shortage, while it cannot supply it to the local market, allegedly because of patent even in health emergency and a war-like situation,” said Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, patron of the AISSF.

Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug, is in acute shortage in India and patients need it in an emergency situation.

Kwality Pharmaceuticals has demanded temporary exemption from patent rules from the Central Drugs Standard Control Oganisation(CDCO).

The company also claims that it can make the dosage available only for Rs1,500 per dosage against the exorbitant prices of the medicine in black market. “So, why are the patients being exploited and allowed to die in such an emergency situation?” he asked. The federation leaders criticised the Union Government for its failure to make the drug on time. The federation leaders also lamented that today this injection was being sold at a much higher price than the price fixed by the government. Not only this, it was being sold at Rs18,000 to Rs20,000 per injection, which is how the black market is being run. Such greedy people should be dealt with sternly. — TNS