UP to charge those black-marketing Remdesivir under National Security Act

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed officials to conduct raids on those involved in the black market trade of medicines like Remdesivir used to treat the coronavirus and charge offenders under the National Security Act (NSA). The Chief Minister was chairing a review meeting with his top officials in Lucknow.

"The director general of police should constitute special teams to conduct raids on those involved in black-marketing of medicines like Remdesivir and Fabiflu. NSA and Gangster Act should be invoked against those involved in such practice," Yogi Adityanath said. He further added that there is no plan to impose a lockdown.

"At all oxygen plants/refilling centres, officers should be deployed, and it should be ensured that oxygen is given in a transparent manner," he said. The UP CM instructed for effective monitoring of the drug's producers and directed GPS installation on oxygen tankers and security for oxygen plants.

"There is no shortage of medicines and oxygen in the state," the CM reiterated.

"There should be a backup of at least 36 hours of oxygen in hospitals. The state will get 10,000 Remdesivir vials by Thursday and demand of 50,000 more vials per day should be sent," he added. The CM has instructed officials to add at least 200 beds in every district, quarantine migrants from outside states by two weeks, and prepare for vaccinating people over 18 as decided by the state cabinet. He also instructed hospitals to put out information about their available number of beds and medical oxygen stock and update it regularly.