Third wave in mind, Punjab lines up buffer stock of life-saving drugs

CHANDIGARH: To counter an expected third Covid-19 wave, the Punjab government has started creating a buffer stock of life-saving drugs and crucial medical equipment that were in short supply during the second wave of the infection.

Like in the other states across the country, the surge of Covid cases during the peak of second wave had pushed the demand for medicines like Remdesivir and Immunoglobulins, leading to acute shortage.

Family members of the patients had to desperately search for these medicines, especially Remdesivir and many of them had to even purchase them from the black market. The state also faced a shortage of Amphotericin injection required to treat Mucormycosis (black fungus).

By creating a buffer stock, the government aims to prevent such shortages during the third wave that is expected to hit its peak between October-November late this year. The government has initiated the process of purchasing the medicines through the health department and National Health Mission (NHM) for district hospitals and medical colleges.

Hussan Lal, principal secretary, department of health, maintained that based on projections, the requirement of all hospitals and medical colleges has been assessed. "A comprehensive plan has been drawn and tenders of different drugs have been floated. To ensure sufficient stock in hand by the time the third wave hits, the department has started purchasing these medicines in a phased manner," said Husan Lal.

Principal secretary of the department of medical education and research DK Tiwari stated that the department has been provided with 16,500 injections of Remdesivir, 1,500 Immunoglobulins and 300 Amphotericin for its four colleges located in Patiala, Amritsar, Faridkot and Mohali. "We have received the first lot of the medicines and more doses are expected to be supplied in coming days," said Tiwari.

Separate cold stores are being set up to store these medicines -- one each has already been set up in the four medical colleges. Private hospitals providing Covid treatment have also been asked to create buffer stocks.

Tenders have also been floated for the purchase of required equipment and furniture for laboratories, intensive care unit (ICU), Mucormycosis and paediatric wards.

The first two waves of the infection rattled Punjab, recording a higher number of cases and deaths. As many as 1,60,954 people got the infection and 5,197 succumbed to the virus in the first wave (July to December) while in the second wave of infection that started in mid-February 4,20,201 people contracted the virus till July 3 and 10,409 died.