In order to ensure adequate supply of Remdesivir during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the government has approved 25 new manufacturing sites for its production since April 12.  

The production capacity of Remdesivir too has been ramped up to 90 lakhs vials per month from the earlier 40 lakhs vials every month. The government says that Remdesivir production will soon go up to 3 lakh vial per day.

"Production capacity is now ramped up to 90 lakhs vials per month, earlier it was 40 lakhs vials/month. Very soon, 3 lakh vial/day will be produced. Monitoring is being done on a daily basis. We would not leave any stone unturned to supply Remdesivir," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted Friday evening.  

The escalation of serious Covid-19 patients in hospitals for effective clinical management has also resulted in an increase in the demand of Remdesivir. While the States have been advised to promote judicious use of the drug which is listed as an Investigational Therapy by the Health Ministry, they have also been advised to take action against possible hoarding and black marketing of the drug.

Keeping in mind the sudden surge in demand in the country for Remdesivir Injection required for Covid-19 therapy, the manufacturing capacity of domestic Remdesivir manufacturers has been ramped up.

Export of Remdesivir has also been prohibited on April 11 in order to shore up domestic supplies.

To further address reports of shortages in certain regions of the country and facilitate smooth inter-state supply of Remdesivir, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in coordination with the Department of Pharmaceuticals had made an interim allocation of Remdesivir for 19 states/UTs for the period up to April 30.

Remdesivir being an investigational therapy drug given in acute and severe versions of Covid-19 where oxygen support is a must, this allocation pertains to 14 states to which medical oxygen is allocated and 5 other states where the high volume of supplies are being observed.