Shortage of Remdesivir delaying treatment, keeping beds blocked
The Hindu
Bed availability impacted in some hospitals; drug supply likely to ease in a week
Shortage of Remdesivir is having a direct impact on the availability of beds in some corporate and private hospitals. Since it has been taking two days or more for many people to lay their hands on the drug vials, treatment of COVID-19 patients is dragging, keeping them in hospitals for longer periods, said a senior government official. In such a scenario, beds are not unable to be freed up for new patients. “If the drug is available immediately, then waiting time will be cut down. One can be discharged faster, making the bed available for the next patient,” said the official on condition of anonymity. It is expected that supply of the antiviral drug will ease by the end of the month. Currently, a few small private hospitals with 50 or less beds are not admitting COVID-19 patients since they do not have access to Remdesivir. “If it is made available to those hospitals too, some more COVID patients can get treated there. That would also free up beds in major government and private hospitals and critical patients can be taken in. Supply of oxygen to these facilities will also help,” the official said.More Related News