With reports of shortage of Remdesivir drug coming from all across the country and its prices going through the roof in the black market, a total of 850 Remdesivir ampules were stolen from a store of the Gandhi Medical College, a government-run facility in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Saturday.
I have received the information about the theft of the injections. This is a very serious matter. Divisional Commissioner Kavindra Kiyawat and Bhopal Deputy Inspector General of Police Irshad Wali have reached the spot and started investigations, MP Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang told reporters at the facility on Saturday.
Bhopal has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the last three weeks. The city has also been facing an acute shortage of Remdesivir injections required in the treatment of Covid-19, besides hospital beds and oxygen.
On April 16, Madhya Pradesh recorded 11,045 fresh coronavirus cases, its biggest one-day spike so far, taking the state’s infection count to 3,84,563, as per the state health department. The overall fatality count rose to 4,425 as 60 more patients succumbed to the infection.
Madhya Pradesh has recorded 89,052 new cases and 439 fatalities since the beginning of April.
Meanwhile, the manufacturers of the injection have slashed the price after Indian government’s request.
The announcement comes days after the Centre held a meeting with all-existing manufacturers of the drug and other stakeholders in order to discuss steps taken to increase production and supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir.