India bans exports of anti-viral drug Remdesivir as Covid-19 cases surge
New Covid-19 cases in India surged to a record of 152,879 on Sunday as the country battled a second wave of infections by pushing for faster vaccinations. FILE PHOTO: A healthcare worker collects a swab sample from a man during a rapid antigen testing campaign for Covid-19, near the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai, India, April 5, 2021. Reuters
India said on Sunday it had banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients after a record spike in Covid-19 cases sent demand surging.
"In light of the above, Government of India has prohibited the exports of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) till the situation improves," the health ministry said in a statement.
Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.
New Covid-19 cases in India surged to a record of 152,879 on Sunday as the country battled a second wave of infections by pushing for faster vaccinations, with some states considering tougher restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.
India leads the world in the daily average number of new infections reported, accounting for one in every six infections reported globally each day, according to a Reuters tally.
Daily cases have set record highs six times this week, according to data from the federal health ministry.
Deaths have also surged, with the federal health ministry reporting 839 fatalities on Sunday - the highest in over five months - as hospitals and crematoriums in some parts of the country grappled with the worsening situation.
India’s tally of more than 13.35 million cases is the third-highest globally, behind only Brazil and the United States.
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