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The Central government has allocated to the States and Union Territories 40,000 out of the 45,000 vials of recently imported drug Tocilizumab (80 mg strength) for treatment of COVID-19.
It has set aside 5,000 vials for Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for distribution to central health institutions under the Ministry’s control, as well as for the Department of Pharmaceuticals towards supply to health institutions under other ministries.
The latest allocation follows the 9,900 vials (200 mg) of Tocilizumab it had made to the States/Union Territories and Central health institutions almost a fortnight ago.
The second lot of Tocilizumab arrived on May 10, a senior official each of the MoHFW and the Department of Pharmaceuticals said in a joint communication. Tocilizumab was sourced only through imports from Hoffman La Roche by Roche India and marketed in the country by Cipla, they noted.
While the sale of Tocilizumab to various States/UTs was being undertaken directly by Cipla, the Central government was “making all efforts to ensure that the drug is available across the country,.” they stated. Referring to the earlier allocation, their letter pointed out that the MoHFW recently also allocated 50,024 vials (80 mg) received through donation among the States and Central health institutions.
The allocated vials were being placed at the disposal of the health departments of the State governments/UTs for supply to government and private hospitals. No separate quantity was being allocated directly to the private hospitals. The State governments should advise them to contact the health department to source the drug.
‘Prevent blackmarketing’
“The distribution is being done to States looking only at the recent active caseload in the States,” the officials said in the letter, asking them to prevent hoarding/black marketing. The States should also ensure that the drug was used judiciously and strictly according to the treatment protocol advised in the clinical guidance issued by the Joint Monitoring Group of the MoHFW.
The States whose allocation are more than 1,000 vials are Maharashtra 6,380 vials, Karnataka 6,150; Kerala 4,500; Uttar Pradesh 2,420; Rajasthan 2,185; Andhra Pradesh 2,040; Tamil Nadu 1,650; Gujarat 1,465; West Bengal 1,365; Chhatisgarh 1,350; Haryana 1,220; Madhya Pradesh 1,190; and Bihar 1,130.
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