مضمون کا ماخذ : اسکریچ کارڈز کی جیت
Govt takes action over shortage of Covid-19 medicines
Chairing a meeting on the issue here, he said that these medicines will be distributed to the critically ill patients through a robust
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza Saturday said that Tocilizumab (Actemra) and Remedesivir injections used for management of Covid-19 patients are being made available by the government.
Chairing a meeting on the issue here, he said that these medicines will be distributed to the critically ill patients through a robust mechanism to meet the needs of various hospitals and any over-charging of Actemra injection will not be allowed. “Taking cognizance of reports of short supply of these two injections, we took immediate action and after extensive efforts there is an improvement in availability status of the Tocilizumab Injection,” he said. Mirza said that over-charging of the life-saving injection will not be allowed. “Approved maximum retail price for Actemra (Tocilizumab) 80 mg injection is Rs 11, 952 per vial whereas Rs 29,882 for Actemra 200 mg injection vial and Rs 59, 764 for Actemra 400 mg injection vial,” he said.
Strict action will be taken against elements involved in over-charging or black marketing of life-saving drugs in accordance with DRAP Act, 2012. He said that people are encouraged to inform DRAP on its toll-free number 0800-03727 in case they have been over-charged for Actemra injection. He added that directions have been issued to National Task Force on Eradication of Spurious and Sub-standard drugs to apprehend black marketers and over charging elements on approved prices of Tocilizumab Injection. Tocilizumab injection is a humanized monoclonal antibody that ordinarily used as an immune suppressant agent in rheumatoid arthritis. The National Clinical Management Guidelines have included it for use in treatment of critically ill patients of COVID-19 who have Cytokine Release Storm (a condition which a subset of critically ill coronavirus patients can develop and is established through certain laboratory tests). However, its availability remained an issue as it was being imported from Japan only. In order to resolve shortage of medicines, the DRAP has approved import of Tocilizumab injection from United States of America as well. Multiple consignments have arrived of the injection, however, it will be made available through authorized distributor only. Another important medicine, Remdesivir, is a relatively new antiviral medicine recommended for use in moderate to severe disease by Pakistan’s National Clinical Management Guidelines and has been shown to shorten the duration of illness.
