Come down heavily on blackmarketeers of CVorona drugs, oxygen : CM
Amid reports of black marketing and inflated billing for essential medical supplies such as Remdesivir and FabiFlu required for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed senior Home Department officials to curb the nefarious practice at any cost.
Chairing over a high-level Covid review meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday, Yogi asked top officials to ensure uninterrupted oxygen availability in Covid-19- designated hospitals with additional 48 hour oxygen backup inventory and stressed on oxygen production units needed to be operated at optimum capacity.
Taking cognisance of the current Covid situation, the CM also directed Director General of Police, HC Awasthi to check black marketing of Remdesivir and other COVID-19 medicines, and invoke stringent provisions of National Security Act (NSA) and Gangster Act against those found guilty.
“The state government is fully committed to facilitating easy availability of all Covid medicines to the people. Initiate immediate remedial action to ensure supply of Remdesivir injection to public and private hospitals and ensure adequate availability of oxygen” the CM instructed.
Yogi underlined that adequate and ready availability of Remdesivir, FabiFlu, oxygen and essential medical supplies, including personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, face masks, gloves, sanitisers etc must be maintained, and strict action be taken against those indulging in black marketing.
“Senior officers must themselves monitor the working at all oxygen refill centers. Ensure that oxygen is distributed in a transparent manner and develop a system where Oxygen tankers are connected to GPS and sufficient police force should be deployed at the plants” the CM instructed.
Yogi also asked concerned authorities to probe the irregularities in procurement of medical equipment pertaining to Covid-19. Reports emanating from a few districts in UP had suggested that certain medical supplies were being purchased at much higher price than that prevailing in the open market.
To strengthen the process further, the authorities have been told to verify the stock of essential drugs and oxygen cylinders and instruct enforcement staff immediately to keep vigil especially at sensitive places and to take instant action by conducting raids, special drive of monitoring and investigation.
“It is a crime against humanity and no one dealing in hoarding and black-marketing of oxygen and Covid-19 medicines should be spared. The police should work with the policy of Zero-Tolerance to instill fear in the minds of the culprits,” said the CM adding that “Continuous supply of oxygen to hospitals in all districts must be ensured. The control room set up by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in connection with this, should also remain active 24 hours and must assure that oxygen is only used for medical purposes.”
Uttar Pradesh has been reeling under the cascading impact of the second wave of Corona pandemic leading to an alarming spike in daily cases. Amid the massive surge in Corona cases, the demand for medical oxygen and anti-viral drug Remdesivir has skyrocketed.
