Tocilizumab and Remdesivir in high demand in Maharashtra; govt to come up with guidelines

Maharashtra govt will soon come up with guidelines for prescribing drugs such as Tocilizumab, Favipiravir and Remdesivir

As Maharashtra’s COVID 19 cases surge in the last few days, drugs-Tocilizumab and Remdesivir,  are in huge demand as doctors are increasingly prescribing it for moderately to severely ill patients even as scientific evidence on their efficacy is awaited. Dr Pradeep Vyas, Health Secretary of Maharashtra, said they are soon going to release a treatment protocol so that the “drug is not unnecessarily prescribed and administered to Covid-19 patients”. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the state government will be purchasing Remdesivir and Tocilizumab soon.

After a meeting with FDA Minister Ravindra Shingne, Deshmukh said, “There is a high demand for these two drugs across the state. We have started making purchases and soon they will be available across Maharashtra.”

A few days back Express Healthcare had reported on the shortage of these drugs and some doctors from Mumbai had raised concerns on how hospitals were hoarding these drugs.

Dr Chinmay Godbole, Chief of Intensive Care, KJ Somaiya Hospital, Superspecialty Centre, said, “We should have some way to procure these drugs easily as currently procuring them is a challenge. More importantly, since these are observed to be life-saving drugs, it should be made available easily. Further, the awareness of the indications of these drugs is important. We do not want hoarding of these essential drugs by anyone”.

Some doctors also raised concerns on the higher dose prescribed to patients which could have adverse effects on patients. Read more on this issue: https://www.expresshealthcare.in/clinical-research/the-effect-of-repurposed-drugs-on-covid-19-patients-explained/422843/

With 7,862 new cases, Maharashtra on Friday witnessed its highest-ever single-day record in fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the state burden to 2.38 lakh. Mumbai with 1,337 new cases has till now reported 90,461 infections. With 226 deaths registered on Friday, the toll in the state stands at 9,893. In Mumbai, which saw 73 more people succumbing to the virus, the toll is 5,205..