UPDATED: May 12, 2021 09:24 IST
LIFELINE: A Chennai resident with Remdesivir purchased from a government facility (Arun Sankar/Getty Images)
When a harried Naresh Indulkar, a resident of Mumbai’s Thane, went searching for three vials of Remdesivir for a relative in critical condition in hospital, it took nearly six hours to find a pharmacy with stock. “Rs 22,000 a vial,” whispered the man behind the counter, though the marked retail price was only Rs 1,800. Distraught, Indulkar returned to his apartment. A glimmer of hope appeared in the form of a reply from his neighbour to an appeal he had posted on his residential society’s WhatsApp group. On calling him, the neighbour came up two floors and offered Indulkar three spare vials of Remdesivir he had. “He had bought eight vials at a premium to treat his father,” recalls Indulkar. “Five sufficed, and as thanksgiving, he offered me the rest at the marked price, unmindful of his financial loss.”
Delhi HC asks Centre, Delhi govt to file status report on seized medicine, equipment
May 10, 2021
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Issues notices to the Centre and Delhi government, asks for status report on seizure of hoarded material The Delhi High Court Monday asked the Centre and Delhi government to prevent black marketing and hoarding of medicines and medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators.
It also directed the Delhi government to file a status report on seizure of hoarded equipment and medicines and orders passed by the SDMs for release of the same.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was hearing a PIL seeking directions to declare medicines and medical equipment meant for Covid treatment as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act. It said if something has to be done, “do it without waiting for orders from the court”.
HC directions to Delhi govt on oxygen, cylinders and planning for medication shortages
Delhi government has said it will hold a meeting of all the stakeholders and take a decision.
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Photo for representation
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a slew of directions to the Delhi government on various issues which included fixing rates for oxygen, its cylinders and planning for any future shortages of medicines required for Covid-19 treatment.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli passed the directions based on the shortcomings pointed out by amicus curiae and senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao in his report placed before the court.
Letters to The Editor
COVID hits rural India
The surge of COVID-19 cases in rural India is a matter of grave concern. The reason is the reverse migration of workers from the metro cities of the country to the villages and not adhering to the COVID safeguards. The basic healthcare facilities are available in the villages of the country and this medical infrastructure is not capable of dealing with COVID patients. In such a situation, the patients have to move to the cities for treatment. States need to take effective steps to curb the cases in rural areas. Strict lockdowns in villages and boosting of healthcare facilities should be considered.