The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court called an urgent hearing on Sunday over the availability of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and medical oxygen in the state as the second wave of Covid-19 rages on.
On being informed that the central government had reduced the state-wise allocation of Remdesivir to Maharashtra by more than 14 per cent on account of a drop in active cases, the court asked the Centre to reconsider its decision.
The bench pointed out that the reduction in active cases in the state is of 1.25 per cent but the Remdesivir allocation has been decreased by 14 per cent. The court, hence, requested the central government to reduce the allocation in proportion to the drop in active cases.
Continue supplying: Bombay HC
The state government informed the bench that Maharashtra had so far received a huge number of Remdesivir injections in compliance with the orders of the court. Out of the total amount mandated by the court, the state had already received 19,040 injections and another 960 were to arrive by Sunday evening.
The court directed drug companies to continue supplying the injections even if the state government fails to place an order as per procedure since that is merely a formality and can be completed afterwards too. The bench told the companies to fulfil the demands of the state at a good pace.
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The bench of Justices SB Shukre and AG Gharote directed Maharashtra government to make arrangements to airlift the stock from pharmaceutical companies if transportation is a problem. The court directed the state to ensure there is no further gap in the supply of Remdesivir.
The court also directed the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that the backlog of Remdesivir injections is cleared.
Nagpur PIL
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) registered to consider issues of Covid-19 management in Nagpur.
The bench had earlier directed the state to allot 20,000 vials of Remdesivir to Nagpur, Akola and Bhandara districts in addition to the regular quota. They had warned that any failure to provide the drug would be considered a violation of the fundamental right of citizens under Article 21 and would attract penal provisions against the erring officials.
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On Saturday, the court directed all concerned authorities involved in granting import marketing permission and import license to expeditiously grant the requisite permissions in accordance with law.
The court ordered the district collector to take immediate steps to utilise the funds of Rs 2.05 crores received from the Western Coalfields Limited, Nagpur for the purpose of setting up oxygen plants at Covid hospitals providing treatment free of cost.
The next hearing in this case will be on May 5.
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Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/mumbai/story/reconsider-reduction-remdesivir-allocation-centre-maharashtra-bhc-1798204-2021-05-03
