During the meet, the minister talked about the launch of India’s first 2-DG anti-COVID drug and aid offered to states to fight COVID-19, amid other things
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) Dr Harsh Vardhan chaired the 26th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 yesterday.
During the meet, he said, “India’s COVID-19 new cases have dropped to less than three lakhs for the first time after 26 days. Moreover, a net decline of 1,01,461 cases have been recorded in the active caseload in the last 24 hours.”
He also appreciated the launch of India’s first anti-COVID-19 drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose or 2-DG (developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) and Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s laboratories).
The minister informed the members that the drug has the potential to become a game changer in our response against COVID pandemic as it reduces the dependence of patients on oxygen administration and has the potential of getting absorbed differentially and in a selected manner. In the COVID-infected cells, it inhibits virus synthesis and energy production for the process.
He also mentioned that the Centre has distributed 422.79 lakh N95 masks, 176.91 lakh PPE kits, 52.64 lakh remdesivir injections and 45,066 ventilators to states and Union Territories (UTs) till date.
Dr Vardhan further informed that 17 new labs are going to be added to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to increase the number of samples screened and allow for more spatial analysis. The network is currently served by 10 labs located at different corners of the country.
Dr Sujeet K Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) presented, a detailed report on the mutations of SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern (VoCs) being reported in India. He showed figures related to the state-wise prevalence of VoCs like the B.1.1.7 and B.1.617 across India. B.1.1.7 lineage (UK variant) was found predominant in the samples collected in Punjab and Chandigarh between February and March 2021.
Dr Balaram Bhargava, Secretary – Health Research, and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), presented his views on the innovative changes in testing policy that would widen its scope of application and help in mass screening for COVID, particularly in peri-urban and rural settings where health infrastructure is relatively weak.
Deployment of mobile RT-PCR testing vans and amplification of RAT tests were presented as the way forward. While the present capacity is around 25 lakhs (RTPCR-13 lakh and RAT- 12 lakh), this is projected to exponentially increase to 45 lakhs (RTPCR-18 lakh and RAT- 27 lakh) under the new testing regimen.
He also informed regarding the home-isolation guidelines which have been converted into Hindi and other regional languages for wider reach. Warning signs for hospitalisation, admission to ICU and for potential administration of remdesivir and tocilizumab were also highlighted.
S Aparna, Secretary, Pharma, informed that a dedicated cell has been created to coordinate the production and allocation of drugs in demand to treat COVID-19. Manufacturers have been advised to increase the production of drugs.
In addition, the three-pronged strategy undertaken was apprised to the ministers – identification of new suppliers and addressing operative issues faced by them exploring all the possible ways to meet the demand; rational distribution of drugs to states and UTs to avoid hoarding in drug-producing states constant monitoring of the supply chain and quick resolution of issues between states and suppliers; and enforcement against hoarding and black-marketing was also initiated through the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and State Drug Controllers (SDCs).
Aparna also notified that demand for favipiravir increased although the drug is not recommended in COVID medical guidelines. She suggested IEC campaigns for judicious use of these drugs.
She also highlighted that remdesivir production has more than tripled in the country with government intervention from around 39 lakh to 118 lakh vials per month. Further, demand for amphotericin-B, used for treatment of mucormycosis, has also increased.
Five suppliers have been identified and efforts are being made for optimal allocation of the drug. States were given one lakh vials from 1st to 14th May, 2021 while avenues for import are being actively explored, she informed.
She also emphasised that states must make equitable distribution among government and private hospitals and keep hospital and general public informed on availability and shop details, help prevent unnecessary stockpiling and ensure timely payments to the manufactures.
Those present in the meeting included Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs; Hardeep S Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation; Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (I/C), and Chemical and Fertilizers and Nityanand Rai, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Dr Vinod K Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State (MoS), MoH&FW joined the meet digitally.