Amaravati/Hyderabad: As the number of covid cases is steadily increasing in the country, reports of fake Covid drugs and fake Covid-19 test report rackets have also increased in several states.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are said to be prominent among these states, reports say.
While Remdesivir is in high demand across the country as it is used as an emergency drug to treat critically ill Covid patients, several gangs are reportedly selling fake drugs.
Recently Telangana police have seized fake injections from nine persons who took advantage of the demand of the anti-viral medication.
They were selling glucose solutions at Rs 35,000-40,000 per vial, while its legal market price is Rs 3,490.
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"Some medical shops are displaying no stock or no supply boards but are selling the medicine for an exorbitant price," a person familiar with the matter said.
"There is a pressure from the politicians in Andhra Pradesh on doctors who are working in the Covid-19 centers for administering Remdesiver to patients recommended by them. But recently the coordinator of Tenali Covid care center which comes under Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh refused demands from politicians saying that drugs should be administered depending on the health conditions of patients only," he said.
Principal secretary of the state for medical and health department, Anil Kumar Singhal has issued specific orders on the sale of drugs to stop illegal ways.
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He said there are 32,810 available doses of Remdesiver and advised people not to panic.
Due to huge demand and long queues in Visakhapatnam for Remedisiver injection, Singhal advised the drug authority to immediately access the situation for better results.
In view of the situation, the drug authority of the state also introduced a WhatsApp number for the people to register complaints whenever there is a problem regarding the Covid-19 drugs.
