The Free Press Journal

Pvt. hospitals avail 334 Remdesivir injections on loan basis from MBMC

- SURESH GOLANI

Alarmed by the rising number of Covid-19 related deaths, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporatio­n (MBMC) had trained its focus on reducing the fatalities in the twin-city.

After setting up a mechanism to ensure adequate supply of liquid oxygen at its dedicated Covid-19 facility in Bhayandar, the MBMC’s health department had started offering vials of Remdesivir injection for patients undergoing treatment for the deadly infection at private hospitals in case of unavailabi­lity.

As per the lifesaving plan rolled out in accordance with revised treatment protocols recommende­d by the government for the management of hospitaliz­ed

Covid-19 patients, the MBMC as a stop-gap arrangemen­t to tackle shortage or unavailabi­lity started providing injections to private hospitals for emergency cases.

In the past one month private hospitals have availed 334 injections (100 mg) on a loan basis to be replaced by an equal number of vials once they get their supply. However, only 153 injections have returned, even as the MBMC awaits 181 replacemen­ts amid shortage.

Despite an alarming rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and mounting death toll, the MBMC is facing a shortage of life saving drugs like Remdesivir injection which are administer­ed for the treatment of patients.

“We had given an order of 4000 vials on September 24. However, till date we have received only 300 vials which have been distribute­d to our Covid-19 facilities. At an average, 70 injections are needed every day. While we expect to get the delivery soon, other options are being explored to ensure adequate stock.” said a MBMC officer.

With 598 casualties so far, the mounting death toll continues to become a major cause of worry for the civic administra­tion as the overall death rate continues to hover above 3.08 percent.

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