In the wake of the second wave, the Centre is taking a series of steps to improve the supply of Remdesivir, a drug prescribed for Covid-19 patients. As of now, India reportedly has got an installed capacity to produce 38.80 lakh vials of the drug per month. This is not adequate.

On Wednesday, the Modi government gave fast-track approval for as many as 7 additional sites, each of which will produce 10 lakh vials per month.

There are attempts to make the makers of the drug price the vials at less than Rs 3,500 seven days from now. Hospitals will receive the supply of drugs on a priority.

Earlier in the week, Niti Ayog's Dr VK Paul said that there is no question of use of Remdesivir in the home setting. Only hospitalized individuals who are on oxygen shall be given the drug. They shall not be procured from chemist shops, he added.