Yogi Adityanath
No shortage of Remdesivir in UP, Yogi orders crackdown on black marketing of Covid-19 drugs
Lucknow/UNI: In the wake of the rising coronavirus infections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued strict instructions to the State Health Department and State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to check black marketing and hoarding of Remdesivir and other drugs essential for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and ensure that they are not sold at high prices.
The CM has directed to assess the availability of the medicines for next month and then raise the demand. "No single patient should suffer for want of medicines," the CM said here on Friday.
CM Yogi, who is in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid, has been constantly reviewing the Covid situation across the state virtually with senior officials.
Despite the availability of 8 essential drugs including Remdesivir used for the treatment of Covid patients in abundant quantities in the state, the illegal sale has raised concerns.
The government has directed the concerned authorities to verify the stock and take immediate action on the incidence of black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir.
To strengthen the process further, the authorities have been urged to instruct enforcement staff immediately to keep strict vigil especially at sensitive places and to take stringent action by conducting raids, a special drive of monitoring and investigation.
In addition to this, CM Yogi has also directed the State Health Department to step up the supply of Remdesivir in all the districts and the hospitals for better treatment of covid patients.
At the same time, the government has also asked to ensure the availability of life saving essential drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol, ivermectin, anti-tuberculosis drugs, anti-diabetic drugs, cardiac drugs, imported anti-epileptic drugs and various COVID-19 drugs in adequate quantities.
The CM further issued directives to ensure a sufficient number of ICU beds in districts with a high number of active Covid cases that include Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar, Gorakhpur and Jhansi.
In addition to this, an uninterrupted supply of oxygen in Covid hospitals and oxygen cylinders should be regularly replaced in all districts while dialysis machines should be arranged for Covid-19 patients suffering from kidney ailments.
While reviewing the Covid situation in the state, CM also directed the officials to ensure that the formula of 'Test, Trace, Treat’ is practiced in order to contain the spread of infection.
Specific instructions have been issued to the private testing labs to ramp up the testing capacity and increase the number of RT-PCR tests in the state at fixed prices.
The use of TruNat machines should immediately begin for Covid tests and a smooth supply of home isolation kits for Covid patients should be ensured in the state, instructed Yogi.
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