Remdesivir Is Only For Serious Patients Not Home Use, Says Govt

New Delhi: Remdesivir is to be given only to serious COVID-19 patients in hospitals and is not to be used in home settings, said the Centre on Tuesday, asking doctors to ensure “rational and judicious” use of anti-viral drug.

“Remdesivir is to be used only in those who require hospitalisation and are on oxygen support. That is the precondition. There is no question of its use in the home setting and for mild cases, and it is not to be procured from chemist shops,” said NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul at a press conference, PTI reported.

“We appeal to physicians to ensure rational, correct and judicious use of Remdesivir in hospitalised patients,” he said.

Remdesivir is listed for use in serious COVID-19 patients in the Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19 as an investigational therapy.

As the shortage of Remdesivir was reported in some areas, its export was banned and the medicine is available in plenty, Paul said. “Queuing outside chemist shops to procure Remdesivir is creating distortions,” he said.

India on Sunday banned the export of injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) amid a spike in demand due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

All domestic manufactures of Remdesivir have been advised to display on their website, details of their stockists/distributors to facilitate access to the drug, the Union Health Ministry had said.

Drug inspectors and other officers have been directed to verify stocks and check their malpractices and also take other effective actions to curb hoarding and black marketing.