India approves emergency use of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients: Health Ministry

Health Ministry said on Tuesday that Remdesivir has been approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir is first drug that showed positive results in COVID-19 patients in formal clinical trials. It was granted emergency use authorization by US Food and Drug Administration last month and has received approval by Japanese health regulators.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, at a press conference on Tuesday said that Central Drug Control Standard Organisation (CDCSO) has given permission for emergency use of drug to treat COVID-19 patients based on available evidence.

" Central Drug Control Standard Organisation (CDCSO) has given permission for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients based on available evidence. Remdesivir has been approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients. In terms of what protocol, what doses, it is t available with me w. Particular organisations produce available evidence based on that permission for use is given," said Lav Agarwal.

Earlier in day, country's top drug controller Central Drug Control Standard Organisation (CDCSO) gave Gilead Sciences marketing authorization for its anti-viral drug Remdesivir "only for restricted emergency use" on hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

" decision was pushed due to coronavirus outbreak in country. Remdesivir would be available in form of an injection and will only be sold on retail by prescription of a doctor for hospital use," an official told ANI.

Agarwal said that Union Health Ministry has advised states to focus on oxygen-supported beds. "We have asked all states to analyse trajectory of cases in ir respective states. If a state thinks that it needs to set up temporary COVID-19 care centres, it must do so. We have advised states to focus on oxygen-supported beds," he said.

He said people should be aware and should t panic upon if re are COVID-19 symptoms. "We need to take prompt medical advice and follow advice given by doctors," he said.

READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases at 198,706 on Day 2 of Unlock 1; 48.07% patients recovered

Meanwhile, India's Coronavirus count inched towards 2 lakh-mark on Tuesday. total number of active cases in country stood at 97,581. 

READ: India testing 1.2 lakh samples for COVID-19 daily, outreach has increased: ICMR

India Testing 1.2 Lakh Samples For COVID-19 Daily

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday said that country is w running 1 lakh 20 thousand tests every day for COVID-19, respiratory illness caused by vel Coronavirus, and  outreach of testing has increased due to availability and validation of indigeus platforms.

Addressing a press conference, ICMR scientist Nivedita Gupta informed that India has 681 laboratories that are approved for conducting COVID-19 tests of which 476 are government-run and 205 are in private sector, as of June 1. official also said that ICMR is conducting a serological survey to assess extent of spread of COVID-19 and almost 34,000 people are being tested as a part of survey, results of which will be published in a week.

Gupta furr said, "We've been using indigeus platforms too for ramping up COVID-19 testing capacity. TrueNat screening and confirmatory tests have w been validated. outreach of testing has hence been increased since this is available in primary health centres and districts."

READ: ICMR advises states to conduct IgG ELISA test-based sero-surveys to measure COVID exposure

READ: MP: Samples of 1,700 people taken for ICMR's COVID-19 survey

(With Inputs from ANI)