Govt waives off import duty on Remdesivir

Central Government has waived the import duty on Remdesivir to provide affordable medical care to the Covid-19 patients. The step will increase the supply of this drug and reduce the cost which will benefit the patients. In a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, import duty was removed from Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, injection and specific substances used in the manufacture of Remdesivir.

 

The Ministry said, this order will remain in force till 31st October of this year. Besides, the Union Health Secretary and Union Secretary of Pharmaceuticals held a meeting with States and Union Territories to discuss the issue of use of medicines for treatment of Covid patients.

 

Pharmaceuticals’ Secretary



informed that the Remdesivir has been approved as investigational therapy for those patients who are on oxygen having moderate and severe symptoms. She said, the government has undertaken an exercise for allocation of Remdesivir injection to States based on an objective criteria. 

She informed that since the clinical guidance provides that Remdesivir should be used in cases where oxygen is also required, the allocation is based on the oxygen allocation carried out by the Empowered Group-2 to various states. All states and Union Territories have been asked to ensure judicious use of Remdesivir, stop the black marketing or hoarding of drugs and facilitate the smooth inter-state supplies of medicines.