As per the official release issued by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers on April 14, it states that the government has approved the stepping up of production of Remdesivir - the antiviral medication administered to hospitalized coronavirus patients – and it is expected that production to increase 78 lakh vials per month.

The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement.

The issue of availability of remdesivir was reviewed by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya in meetings with all-existing manufacturers of the remdesivir drug and other stakeholders where decisions were taken to increase production/supply and reduce prices of remdesivir, the statement said.

''Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 10 lakh vials/month to six manufacturers. Another 30 lakh vials/month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month,'' it added.

As an additional measure, remdesivir, active pharmaceutical ingredient  and formulation were placed under export ban on April 11, 2021 to increase the supply of Remdesivir in the domestic market.

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