Srinagar, July 19: Reacting to reports that life-saving drug Remdesivir (found to be effective against COVID-19) is being sold at Rs 36,000 in black market as it is unavailable, former chief minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah asked J&K administration to organize the supply of the medicine without people having to struggle for it.
Meanwhile, amid reports about Remdesivir being sold in black market, the Maharashtra government has ordered 60,000 vials of the drug at Rs 3,392.48 each.
The reports of shortage of this drug in the Valley are coming at a time when there is an upward spiral in the number of death and positive cases. Of the total 238 fatalities reported since March this year, 203 people have lost their lives due to infection in 45 days, and 223 people in 59 day in J&K, where 441 new positive cases were reported on Saturday, taking the total number of infected persons to 13,198.
“This medicine is unavailable at regular rates & reportedly a regular dose costing ₹6000 is being sold on the black market for ₹36,000.Can someone in the administration please organise supplies of #Remdesivir without people having to struggle for it @listenshahid @kansalrohit69,” Omar, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Omar was responding to a tweet which read, “Sos… Urgently Need drug Remdesiver for my father at SKIMS ward 3-A. Please help.”
