Can political parties procure and distribute Remdesivir?

As reports on black-marketing of Remdesivir has come to the fore, Dr Arun Gupta, President of Delhi Medical Council ruled out stocking of the drug by any individual or political party. Hoarding of Remdesivir is highly illegal, immoral and unethical, said Gupta.

New Delhi: As COVID-19 cases have been spiralling across the country, various states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, are facing major shortage of the anti-viral drug, Remdesivir.

While the situation led the Central Government to halt its export, black-marketing of Remdesivir has also been reported. Aggravating the issue, the involvement of political parties has come to the fore as few leaders claimed that the drug was procured for distribution among needy people. But here, the question arises, whether a political party is allowed to buy Remdesivir?

When asked about the matter, Dr Arun Gupta, President of Delhi Medical Council explained, "Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug which kills COVID virus. But its role is not proven. Remdesivir is a medicine that has been issued Emergency Use Authorization. Normal chemists are not permitted to sell it."

He further added, "Keeping stock or hoarding of Remdesivir is highly illegal, immoral and unethical. I want to urge political parties not to hold it. Also, people should not pressurize doctors to use Remdesivir."

A political slugfest began when Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil distributed the anti-viral drug for free in Surat. He told media that he had made "arrangements to buy 5,000 Remdesivir injections from Zydus” and he will get the supply of 500 to 1,000 injections daily from the company for Surat.

However, as per the rules, individuals are not authorized to access the drug and political parties cannot procure or stock Remdesivir. State governments are only permitted to supply the drugs to hospitals.

In another incident reported a few days ago, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also procured 10,000 Remdesivir vials for Nagpur city from Sun Pharma.

Triggering row, video of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis engaged in a heated conversation with police over the detention of Rajesh Dokania has gone viral. Dokania is the director of Bruck Pharma, who was picked up by Mumbai Police for interrogation on the illegal stock of Remdesivir.

However, Fadnavis later claimed that Pravin Darekar, Leader of Opposition in Maharastra legislative council, had met the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Minister Rajendra Shingne as the Remdesivir injections will be handed over to the FDA and the municipal corporation.

On Monday, Maharashtra Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan demanded that the Government should utilize the central investigative agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate against the black-marketeers and hoarders of Covid medicines, rather than using them "against political opponents".