Srinagar- The hospital administration at Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has decided to provide the antiviral drug Remdesivir to admitted patients free of cost.
“Admin decided yesterday in a meeting that they will provide the drug free of cost to Covid-19 patients admitted in the institute,” a SKIMS official told Kashmir Observer. According to doctors, the drug is vital and full doze of five days costs around Rs 30,000.
It may be noted that the drug finally arrived here, three days after Kashmir Observer reported shortage of the vital drug at the tertiary care hospital.
However, many people including the Doctors association have raised concerns regarding its high cost.
“Because of high cost, Remdesivir is out of reach for poor people” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement.
“It is a five day treatment. The loading dose of 200 mg (shot) on day 1 is followed by 100 mg (shot) daily for 4 days (total 5 days),” he added.
Dr Nisar said each vial of Remdesivir costs between Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,400. Thus for a five day treatment, a patient has to pay anywhere between Rs 24,000 and Rs 32,400 as the cost of the drug.
Director, SKIMS Dr A G Ahangar told Kashmir Observer on Wednesday, that they have received 500 doses and more were arriving within next few days
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