India receives 1.5 lakh Remdesivir from Gilead Sciences

Taking to Twitter Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi confirmed that Gilead Sciences has sent over 1.5 lakh vials of Remdesivir to India.

New Delhi: Gilead Sciences on Tuesday has sent over 1.5 lakh vials of Remdesivir to India.

Taking to Twitter Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, confirmed that over 1 .5 lakh vials of Remdesivir are donated by Gilead Sciences.

Thank Gilead for this generous contribution, he said in a tweet.

India is in the midst of the grimmest and darkest days as it continues to struggle against the horrific second wave of the pandemic. From the past few days, India has witnessed thousands and lakh dying out of a shortage of life-gasping oxygen and other medical aid. The horrific scenario in India has raised eyebrows among the global community.

Thankfully, the third phase of vaccination has started but still, the situation is not getting better anytime soon. People of the age group of 18-45 years are struggling to get their slots booked. India's health infrastructure has sunk and the government's failed policy is facing enough criticism now.

However, more than 40 countries including China and Pakistan has come to the rescue of India. Lakhs of medical aid and oxygen plants are coming from different countries. Many have already arrived and are send to different institutes in different states.

It is pertinent to note that Remdesivir is approved in India for restricted emergency use for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and children with severe disease.

Read:COVID-19: Second wave hits Kerala's health services

Last month, US drugmaker Gilead Sciences had said it would send 100,000 vials of Remdesivir to India by May 5.

This will be part of 4,50,000 vials the company said it would donate to India to help the country fight over a severe shortage of the critical antiviral drug, which is used to treat moderate to severe Covid in patients.

Meanwhile, on Sunday (May 2), India has received 1,25,000 vials of anti-viral Remdesivir, the fourth anti- covid consignment from the United States.

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The United States has shown immense support to India at this hour of crisis, as it continues to deliver vital medical supplies to the country to help in its fight against the deadly virus.

India recorded more than 3 lakh novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours on Wednesday and reported a record 3,780 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the centre informed that it has begun distributing foreign aid that arrived in India so far. The Union Ministry of health and family welfare said that around 40 lakh medical items have been sent to 38 institutions across 31 states in the country.

Read:Indian Navy deploys 9 warships to transport oxygen from abroad