A total of 32,000 doses of Remdesivir, an alternative medication used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, have arrived in Nepal.
Santosh KC, information officer at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) informed The Rising Nepal that 32,000 vials of Remdesivir had arrived in Nepal on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has said that the Remdesdivir medicine could be bought directly from the distributor as directed by the doctor at Rs. 4,900 per vial.
Issuing a notice on Wednesday, the Health Ministry urged everyone to pay only Rs. 4,900 for Remdesivir.
The MoHP said that Aayan Healthcare, Kupandole, UN Park was the only certified distributor of Remdesiver, which can be contacted at 9800555910, 9810194416, 9841506370 or 9851124639. The ministry added that doctor’s prescription was mandatory to procure the medicine.
“Following the increase in COVID-19 cases, the demand for Remdesivir had also increased. As per the demand, we have given the approval to procure 120,000 doses of Remdesivir from Bangladesh,” said KC.
Of the 120,00 doses, 61,000 doses have already arrived while the remaining vials will arrive in a few days, he added.
“As the medicines arrive in Kathmandu, we immediately distribute them to the COVID-19 hospitals. We are not keeping the medicines in stock,” said KC.
He added that Remdesivir was not the ultimate medicine used in the treatment of infected patients. “The medicine has worked at times. As no other medications are available for the treatment of COVID-19, the hospitals have been using Remdesivir,” he said.
He highlighted that Remdesivir, produced by Bangladesh-based Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, was being used in Nepal for a clinical trial.
Source : THE RISING NEPAL,
