The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Dr Rajendra Shingane held emergency meeting with representatives of the manufacturers of remdesivir injection and medical oxygen for maintaining their consistent supply for Covid-19 management.
Abhimanyu Kale, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner and Saurabh Vijay, Secretary, Department of Medical Education and Drugs (DMED) and were also part of the meet.
Directives were given to augment supply of remdesivir injection and availability of medical oxygen for the state of Maharashtra. Accordingly, all the manufacturers promised to supply the medicines and medical oxygen to the state of Maharashtra as a priority. At present about 50,000 to 60,000 remdesivir injections are available daily.
As per the order dated March 30, 2021, the government has reserved 80 per cent of the oxygen reserves generated in the state for medical use. The daily oxygen production in Maharashtra is about 1,250 metric tonnes (MT) of which 700 tonnes are being used for medical purposes.
In order to ensure proper and expeditious transport of oxygen everywhere, the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner has issued an order dated April 3, 2021 to reserve 60 per cent tankers for the transport of medical oxygen from six important producers in the state.
Currently, a total of seven pharmaceutical manufacturers produce remidesivir injection for critically ill patients. The drugs are being supplied to government/semi-government hospitals, institutes and distributors in the state from Bhiwandi, Nagpur and Pune.
“The government has started importing oxygen from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh to augment supplies. Maharashtra FDA officials are keeping a close eye on the fact that remdesivir injections should not be sold at inflated rates. However, if any patient is not getting medical oxygen and remdesivir injection or if they are being blackmailed, they should contact the district office of the concerned food and drug office or the toll free number of the administration at 1800222365. It should be noted that definite help will be given to them to get the medicine and strict action will be taken against the black marketers,” stated Maharashtra FDA Minister Rajendra Shingane.
While reviewing how much blood and its components are available with Mumbai and other blood banks in the state, it was found that the blood bank in Mumbai has a total of 3181 units of blood and blood components on April 3, 2021. These stocks are sufficient for about 5 to 7 days and in order to avoid shortage of blood in the future.
“All the blood banks have been urged to conduct small and big blood donation camps in the context of Covid-19. We have directed the authorities to be vigilant in this regard and take necessary steps to control the situation,” State FDA Minister concluded.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Dr Rajendra Shingane held emergency meeting with representatives of the manufacturers of remdesivir injection and medical oxygen for maintaining their consistent supply for Covid-19 management.
Abhimanyu Kale, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner and Saurabh Vijay, Secretary, Department of Medical Education and Drugs (DMED) and were also part of the meet.
Directives were given to augment supply of remdesivir injection and availability of medical oxygen for the state of Maharashtra. Accordingly, all the manufacturers promised to supply the medicines and medical oxygen to the state of Maharashtra as a priority. At present about 50,000 to 60,000 remdesivir injections are available daily.
As per the order dated March 30, 2021, the government has reserved 80 per cent of the oxygen reserves generated in the state for medical use. The daily oxygen production in Maharashtra is about 1,250 metric tonnes (MT) of which 700 tonnes are being used for medical purposes.
In order to ensure proper and expeditious transport of oxygen everywhere, the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner has issued an order dated April 3, 2021 to reserve 60 per cent tankers for the transport of medical oxygen from six important producers in the state.
Currently, a total of seven pharmaceutical manufacturers produce remidesivir injection for critically ill patients. The drugs are being supplied to government/semi-government hospitals, institutes and distributors in the state from Bhiwandi, Nagpur and Pune.
“The government has started importing oxygen from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh to augment supplies. Maharashtra FDA officials are keeping a close eye on the fact that remdesivir injections should not be sold at inflated rates. However, if any patient is not getting medical oxygen and remdesivir injection or if they are being blackmailed, they should contact the district office of the concerned food and drug office or the toll free number of the administration at 1800222365. It should be noted that definite help will be given to them to get the medicine and strict action will be taken against the black marketers,” stated Maharashtra FDA Minister Rajendra Shingane.
While reviewing how much blood and its components are available with Mumbai and other blood banks in the state, it was found that the blood bank in Mumbai has a total of 3181 units of blood and blood components on April 3, 2021. These stocks are sufficient for about 5 to 7 days and in order to avoid shortage of blood in the future.
“All the blood banks have been urged to conduct small and big blood donation camps in the context of Covid-19. We have directed the authorities to be vigilant in this regard and take necessary steps to control the situation,” State FDA Minister concluded.
