|
Oxygen shortage hits production of low-cost Covid-19 drugs in MP
|
|
Laxmi Yadav, Mumbai
April 17 , 2021
|
|
|
Production of low-cost Covid-19 drugs such as dexamethasone, ranitidine, maxeron, etc has come to a halt in Madhya Pradesh following the state government’s decision to curtail the supply of oxygen to pharmaceutical units.
The Madhya Pradesh government had on April 7 diverted oxygen supply for health facilities after reports of oxygen shortage in the state leading to the death of Covid-19 patients.
The state government’s decision has led to disruption in supply of oxygen cylinder to pharma units making injectables like ampoules. This has resulted in stoppage of production of several low-cost Covid-19 drugs -- dexamethasone, ranitidine, maxeron which are often available in glass ampoules. Oxygen cylinder is used in ampoule filling. An injectable unit requires 10-14 oxygen cylinders a week.
Following the instruction of Indore district collector Manish Singh, oxygen manufacturing companies mostly located near Indore stopped the supply of oxygen cylinder to pharma manufacturers. This has led to closure of around 60 units engaged in making injectables, said Himanshu Shah, president, Madhya Pradesh Small Scale Drug Manufacturers’ Association (MPSDMA).
Shah said while it is important to divert oxygen for medical use, pharma units making injectables cannot function without it and a basic minimum supply should be maintained.
At present two drugmakers in the state – Alpa Laboratories and Rusoma Laboratories have set up oxygen plants to cater to their requirements. It takes a unit 3-4 months to put in place oxygen plant costing Rs. 15 lakh.
MPSDMA had on April 9, 2021 written to Indore district collector urging him to allow the supply of oxygen cylinder to pharmaceutical manufacturers who are engaged in manufacturing of ampoules and injections.
Said Amit Chawla, general secretary, MPSDMA, “We appreciate the action taken for restriction of oxygen cylinder for common use except the use in hospitals for Covid patients. However, if the oxygen supply is stopped, the factory may not be able to manufacture injectables like ampoules etc which are the important lifesaving drugs needed in the market.”
Kamal Karamchandani, managing director, Sellwell Pharmaceuticals Ltd said, “We have not been getting oxygen cylinders since last week. We have one lakh ampoules capacity per day. Due to lack of supply of oxygen cylinder, we are not able to maintain government supply.”
“The production of dexamethasone ampoule, ranitidine injection etc. used in Covid-19 treatment has come to a halt in absence of supply of oxygen cylinder,” said Karamchandani.
The state is facing oxygen shortage for Covid-19 patients. It has sought help from the central government for oxygen supply.
Against the demand of over 400 metric tonnes of oxygen, the state had availability of only 280 metric tonnes.
Oxygen is supplied from Maharashtra and Gujarat. There is a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in both the states. In such a situation, supply of oxygen is being disrupted in Madhya Pradesh, sources said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS
|
That foods might provide therapeutic benefits is clearly not a new concept. ...
|
|
|
|
|