Remdesivir Not A Life Saving Drug: AIIMS-Patna Director To HC

PATNA, 20 APRIL 2021:

Remdesivir is not a life saving drug and AIIMS-Patna has not even included this injection in its treatment protocol for Covid-19 patients, AIIMS-Patna director Dr Prabhat Kumar Singh submitted before the Patna high court, which conducted a three-hour special hearing on Monday evening on the severe shortage of beds and oxygen besides non-availability of drugs and poor Covid testing facilities in the state.

Dr Singh submitted that neither mild nor moderate or even severe patients undergoing treatment at AIIMS-P are given this injection as there is no study to prove that it saves lives of Covid-19 patients. “It’s not a wonder drug. There is no clinical study to prove its effectiveness in Covid-19. We don’t give it to our patients,” Dr Singh submitted. AIIMS-Patna counsel Binay Kumar Pandey had also submitted a brochure of treatment protocol.

State health society’s executive director Manoj Kumar kept mum when the division bench of Justices Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Mohit Kumar Shah asked him why then the state government placed an order for Remdesivir worth Rs6.49 crore as the money could be utilised for other purposes at this crisis hour. The court also asked why the government was not highlighting the fact about the injection among common public.

Even the lawyers, including advocate general Lalit Kishore representing the state government, were surprised over the AIIMS-P submissions about Remdesivir.

Health department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Saturday had submitted that emergency procurement of Remdesivir was being done by invoking National Disaster Management Act. The court had taken judicial notice of the acute shortage of the drug in the state and its blackmarketing that day.

The high court on Monday vented its ire on the state government for not having any comprehensive action plan and submitting the same before the court for tackling the present serious situation of Covid-19. “Don’t hide your inefficiency,” the bench observed orally.

Besides, the high court expressed annoyance over lack of daily briefing to the media.

The court directed the AIIMS-director and Bihar Human Rights Commission secretary to visit NMCH and tell how the beds for Covid-19 patients could be increased there and submit a report for next hearing on Wednesday.

It also directed BHRC secretary to conduct a surprise inspection of any hospital treating Covid-19 patients to see if facilities were present there or not. The court also sought details about availability of oxygen in all hospitals from the state government, but its reply didn’t satisfy the bench.

Counsel Sumeet Kumar Singh referred the letter of NMCH superintendent (in-charge) to health department for relieving him from duty over the oxygen crisis.

The court also sought the view of AIIMS-P director on ventilators. He submitted that the cost of one ventilator is around Rs15 lakh and, instead, a high flow nasal oxygen therapy equipment worth around Rs3 lakh each could be purchased and installed for treating critical Covid-19 patients.

The bench also directed the high court registrar general to submit a detailed report on the circumstances under which one of its assistant registrars, Gagan Mishra, died of Covid and if oxygen crisis was also a reason behind his death.

Centre’s additional solicitor general KN Singh submitted that a team of five doctors and 15 nurses had reached the ESIC hospital at Bihta. The court directed the state government to immediately avail their services.

Counsel Mrigank Mauli drew the bench’s attention towards a Covid-19 positive sub-judge’s situation as he needs oxygen but is unable to arrange it.The Times Of India