Niti Aayog takes stock of Covid-19 drug supply

Niti Aayog, India’s policy think-tank, held a meeting with drug manufacturers on Wednesday to examine stocks, supplies and availability of crucial Covid-19 medication, including favipiravir, ivermectin, dexamethasone and amphotericin B.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the health ministry had repeatedly sought the meeting to assess enhancing the production capacity of drugs used to treat Covid-19 patients.

“The meeting was held to make sure we have enough to cater to the current situation and future requirements during the pandemic,” a senior government official said.


The manufacturers have been asked to provide their projected production levels till August.

“There’s no shortage of medicines in the country used for the treatment of Covid-19,” minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. Production of remdesivir has been ramped up from 600,000 doses in April to 10 million doses now, he said.

The meeting was held with manufacturers of drugs including favipiravir, ivermectin, methylpredenisolone injection.