Families talk of their anguish as they struggle to source a drug that has no scientific backing, yet has immense popularity
Kalsekar Hospital Medical and General Stores in Versova has been flooded with enquiries for the injection. Pic/Satej Shinde
Amid the surge in cases, the demand for remdesivir, too, has skyrocketed. With severe shortages, people are running from pillar to post or taking to social media with requests. Their woes are compounded by fake messages that give wrong numbers and resources.
Academician from Lower Parel Dinesh Singh told mid-day that his relative posted a request on Facebook for four vials of remdesivir for a 22-year-old COVID patient at a Bhandup hospital. “The situation is turning grim every day. We need four vials of remdesivir but can’t find it anywhere. This is a total failure of the government as the healthcare system has gone for a toss; there are long queues everywhere,” said Singh.
Charandeep Singh Barki
“I have tried at least 130 helpline numbers but all the efforts turned futile,” Singh said, claiming further, “Black marketeers have a vital role in creating this situation. They are exploiting people in need.”
Flying to Punjab for drug
Charandeep Singh Barki, a Khar resident, sent his son to Punjab to get six doses of remdesivir for his brother-in-law. “My brother-in-law, Maninderjit Singh, had 50 per cent of his lungs impacted by COVID. We admitted him to Sunrise hospital in Mira Road. Our relatives in Ludhiana, managed to procure six injections of the drug. So I sent my son, Anmol, to fetch it,” Charandeep said.
Anmol Singh Barki
Anmol said, “I took the morning flight to Chandigarh on April 19 and boarded the return flight at 6.30 pm on the same day. My uncle recovered thankfully and will be discharged. The six injections cost us Rs 15,000.”
‘Used alternative treatment’
Kalyan resident Manoj Shah had high pneumonia and COVID and was admitted to Star hospital in Bhiwandi. His relative Sanjay Shah said, “My uncle was critical. I contacted many pharmacies, dealers, distributors but nothing worked. On social media, there are only fake messages about its availability. I was calling 300-400 people daily. No one is confirming or verifying messages, everyone is randomly sharing them.” Shah said that his uncle was cured with the help of other treatments and was discharged on Monday.
Manoj Shah’s relatives could not find Remdesivir anywhere; fortunately, he recovered with the help of other treatments
Mahesh Amberkar has had to hunt for the injection for two of his relatives. While his sister was discharged sometime back, his brother-in-law is currently in the ICU at a Nalasopara hospital. Amberkar visited chemists in Parel and near KEM hospital but could not find remdesivir. “The first mayor or Vasai-Virar Rajeev Patil alias Nana helped me get a few vials,” Amberkar added. “We have administered six vials of remdesivir to my brother-in-law but he is yet to recover,” said Amberkar.
Avinash Kuse, a friend of Amberkar, also got a few vials at a higher price. “We paid R10,000 per vial in Mira Road and Mumbai for a friend,” Kuse said.
‘Panicked at prescription’
Imran Khan’s 68-year-old father has been admitted to Kalsekar hospital in Versova. “When the doctors prescribed remdesivir for my father on Monday, I panicked. My elder brother somehow managed to get two vials in,” Khan said.
Satish Tiwari of Kalsekar Hospital Medical and General Stores shows a Remdesivir pack. Pic/Satej Shinde
“We called friends in Bhiwandi, who said only the government can help us. So we called the BMC and FDA, but none of the officials could help. My father needed one vial per day, we could not arrange a vial for the third day so there was a gap of one day. On Thursday, Kalsekar hospital said they can arrange two more vials so we got it from their chemist.”
Calls and messages to newly appointed FDA commissioner Parimal Singh went unanswered.
Rs 2,700
Discounted price paid by Aejaz Khan per vial at Kalsekar hospital’s pharmacy
‘We are flooded with enquiries, but have to prioritise hospital patients first’
Satish Tiwari of Kalsekar Hospital Medical and General Stores at Yari Road, Versova said that he has been flooded with calls. “While we are flooded with calls from relatives of patients, our priority is to cater to those admitted to Kalsekar hospital,” Tiwari said.
“Four companies make remdesivir. But their prices are not uniform. So the government, under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), has locked it at around R3,000. We sell the medicine to needy patients at a further discount of 10 per cent,” Tiwari said.
Jogeshwari resident Aejaz Khan’s 76-year-old father is admitted to Kalsekar hospital and the doctors had prescribed six vials of remdesivir. Aejaz managed to get only two vials from Tiwari. “Even government-approved helplines are of no help. While many were not reachable, those who responded said they will get back to us if it becomes available. What is the use of such helpline numbers?” said Aejaz.
“I went to a south Mumbai hospital, took a token and waited in the queue for half a day. But by the time my turn came, the stock was over,” Aejaz said. “Then Kalsekar hospital said they had received a fresh stock so we got two vials at R2,700 per vial from the hospital’s pharmacy,” he added.
What BMC says
Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said, “We have our stocks updated in real-time on a Google sheet shared with each and every civic hospital. Outside the BMC’s jurisdiction, the FDA has to check for pilferage. BMC can only supply the medicine to civic hospitals. We currently have a sufficient stock of 2 lakh vials.”
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