Tocilizumab injection: Centre allocates 675 vials to Telangana, 2040 to Andhra
Telangana government has constituted a three-member committee for allocation of Tocilizumab drug to COVID-19 patients in government and private hospitals.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 12 May 2021 6:08 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Union Ministry for Chemicals and Fertilizers on Tuesday allocated additional 675 vials of Tocilizumab to Telangana and 2040 vials to Andhra Pradesh.
Tocilizumab is an imported drug being used for the treatment of some COVID-19 patients under certain conditions. Tocilizumab is not manufactured in India and is sourced from Hoffman La Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company.
Till March 2021, the demand for Tocilizumab in the country was adequately being met. After the spike in Covid cases, the demand for the drug has gone up drastically.
On April 30, 2021, 9,900 injections (each having 400 mg strength) were allocated to various states, UTs, and central government hospitals.
In a goodwill gesture, Roche donated 50,000 vials (each having 80 mg strength) for Covid patients in India through the Indian Red Cross Society on May 10. These vials were later allocated to states/UTs and other hospitals.
Besides, 45,000 vials (each having 80 mg strength), imported into India on May 11, have been allocated to states/UTs by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V.Sadananda Gowda said additional 45000 vials of Tocilizumab have been allocated to states/UTs to meet the increased demand.
Telangana government has constituted a three-member committee for allocation of Tocilizumab drug to COVID-19 patients in government and private hospitals.
The three-member committee comprises the director of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, director of medical education, and director of public health and family welfare.
After receiving the request, the directorate of medical education will place it before the committee for approval.
"The patient-wise request should have a detailed recommendation from a team of three specialist doctors who are indenting the drug. It should be done after assessing the patient's condition," said SAM Rizvi, the secretary of the state health ministry.
The committee will allocate the drug after it is satisfied that the criteria were met. The criteria include no active bacterial/fungal/tubercular infection, not improving despite the use of steroids, and significantly raised inflammatory markers, and presence of severe disease (preferably within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of severe disease/ICU admission).
