While people are fighting for their lives during this pandemic certain people don’t mind cashing extra money from them. The unethical clan of black marketers have now made ‘Remdesivir‘ (the first drug to show help fight COVID-19) a tool to pocket money. The drug which costs around Rs 5,000 to 5,400 (Around Rs 7,000 including handling charges) is being sold at prices that are more then 10 times the original cost.
Leave alone any other city or state the black marketing of the drug is flourishing in the capital city of New Delhi. This is happening after government has put a price cap on the medicine so as to make it available to the public at affordable prices, Due to black marketing there has been a shortage in the supply of the drug say the hospitals which is threatening for critical patients. As per government’s distribution norms, companies authorized to manufacture and market the product are supposed to supply it only to hospitals, and not to chemists.
Hetero Labs Ltd and Global pharmaceutical major Mylan are the only company in India which can manufacture and distribute the drug originally made by American bio pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences as per he Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). A copycat version of the drug is also being sold in the market. “You are requested to instruct your enforcement officials to keep strict vigil on the matter to prevent black marketing and sale of drug remdesivir injection above MRP“, said DCGI to drug controllers in State and UTs in regards to the overpricing of the drug.
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“The MRP of remdesivir marketed by Hetero Healthcare is ₹5,400 (per vial), but consumers have reported it being sold at a price anywhere between ₹15,000 to ₹60,000” said DCGI based on the repose received from people. The black marketing of such essential drug is nothing but an unlawful and unethical at these times. Thus, the government is planning stricter action on ground against such acts.
