Covid: Centre tells states to help pharma firms augment production of essential drugs

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

The Centre today asked state drug controllers to help pharmaceutical firms in increasing percentage of manufacturing of mediciens and solve all their problems related to logistics, work force movement, ancillary unit required for drugs and devices in coordination with local authorities.

Asking them to monitor hoarding and over-pricing, it said “hoarding and price escalation of drugs and medical devices should be monitored and action initiated in such cases”.

Asking them to review working status of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing units pre-Covid and post-Covid, the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, told 20 states and UTs to monitor on a regular basis availability of hydroxychloroquine, azythromycin and paracetamol formulation and essential drugs circulated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

According to an official statement, the state drug controllers were requested to provide all support to manufacturing units with the help of local administration and authorities concerned by regular interaction so that there was no shortage of medicines and medical devices.

The drug officials were told to ensure the availability of essential medicines and medical devices required in the management of corona treatment and utilisation of manufacturing capacity to full extent so that sufficient stock without any hindrance could be made available at all levels.