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Tag: Rajesh Tope

  • Pharma companies not supplying mandated Remdesivir quota to Maharashtra: Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday alleged that most of the pharmaceutical companies are not supplying the mandated quantity of Remdesivir vials to the state.

    Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug, is used in the treatment of coronavirus patients.

    “The Union government has fixed the quota of Remdesivir vials to every state. However, most of the pharmaceutical companies are not supplying the vials as per the quantity allocated by the Centre,” Tope told reporters.

    Of the total number of Remdesivir vials that the Indian government has received as part of the US aid, Maharashtra managed to get 52,000 vials, he added.

    “But it is the duty of the (Centre’s) Department of Pharmaceuticals to ensure that Maharashtra gets the supply of Remdesivir as mandated by the Centre,” he said.

    According to him, except Hetero Labs, no other pharmaceutical company is supplying Remdesivir as per the fixed quota.

    Tope had earlier said that the state’s daily requirement of Remdesivir is around 60,000 vials.

    When asked about the expression of interest invited by the Maharashtra government for importing medical equipment, he said, “Purchase order for three lakh Remdesivir vials is given after completing the necessary documentation and approvals. The proposal is now with the Drugs Controller General of India.”

    On Thursday, Tope had claimed that the Union government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals was slow in granting clearance to essential medical items imported by the state government.

    According to the minister, a task force of doctors has been set up to give final approval for oxygen concentrators.

    “The state would be buying over 40,000 oxygen concentrators and the task force has called for a demo of the machine before finalising the order,” he said.

  • Centre slow in clearing essential items imported by Maharashtra: Tope hits out at Modi government

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday claimed that the Union government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals was slow in granting clearance to essential medical items imported by the state government.

    He has asked health officials in the state to grant necessary approvals from their end to ensure adequate oxygen production, stocks of medicines and medical equipment in every district before a “third wave” of the coronavirus pandemic starts, Tope told reporters.

    “The Department of Pharmaceuticals is not giving speedy approval for various essential items we have ordered from abroad,” he said.

    “The Union government’s procedure is taking more time. Various clearances and approvals are needed before the imported items are sent to the state,” the minister said.

    The state was expecting to receive around 3.5 lakh vials of Remdesivir, a key anti-viral drug, from abroad in the next one or two days, he said.

    The Maharashtra government’s global tender for oxygen tanks, oxygen generators and medicines has received response from many countries, he said.

    “I have asked the state task force (on coronavirus) to expedite the process of approval like technical clearance for oxygen generators. We cannot sit on proposals for five-eight days. Once approval is given, we can airlift the items here,” he said.

    The state is planning to buy around 40,000 oxygen generators, the minister said.

    On shortage of staff in the health department, Tope said, “The state cabinet on Wednesday discussed the issue and we have decided to recruit 12,000 persons including technicians, nurses, ward boys, drivers and peons as soon as possible.”

    As many as 2,000 doctors would be recruited as medical officers and another 2,000 as specialists, he said.

    The chief minister and health department will jointly finalise the recruitment procedure in a week, Tope added.

    “The state government will appoint an agency for the recruitment of class C and D employees, while principal secretary of the health department will look into the recruitment of medical officers.”

    “For class-1 posts, the health department will submit a proposal to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission,” he added.

  • Maharashtra lockdown to be extended by 15 days beyond April 30: Health minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The existing lockdown-like restrictions in Maharashtra, imposed to stem the COVID-19 spread, will be extended by 15 days beyond April 30, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

    The strict curbs on movement of people and a host of other activities are in force in the state since April 14 and were to end on April 30.

    Essential services have been exempted from the curbs.

    Addressing media persons after a Cabinet meeting here, Tope said though the COVID-19 situation seems to have stabilised to some extent in the state, all the ministers pitched for extending the on-going curbs.

    “Today, the number (of daily cases) is 60,000-plus. There definitely is some stability. We had earlier predicted that (daily) cases may go beyond 70,000. But that has not happened. Now I hope and pray to God that this may be the peak and there will be a decline in the graph daily here on,” he said.

    ALSO READ: Maharashtra announces free vaccines for people in 18-44 age group

    The minister said if people observe COVID-appropriate behaviour by wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms, the present situation can be brought under control.

    But one thing is sure, all the Cabinet members said in unison that the lockdown, which will be effective till April 30, be extended.

    Now, it definitely will be extended by 15 days, Tope said.

    Prohibitory orders, banning assembly of five or more people at once place, are in force, while non-essential activities are not being allowed.

    At present, vegetable shops, grocery stores and milk shops are allowed to remain open only between 7 am and 11 am, while home delivery of items is permitted till 8 pm.

    Last week, the state government further tightened the curbs by imposing restrictions on travel, attendance in offices and wedding functions.

  • ‘Not a national news’: Maharashtra Health Minister on death of 13 COVID patients in Virar hospital fire

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said that the fire incident at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in the Virar area of Maharashtra’s Palghar district in which 13 patients loss their lives is ‘not national news’.

    “In today’s meeting with the PM, we will talk about Oxygen, Remdesivir, an adequate quantity of vaccines for the State…also the Virar fire incident, it is not national news. State govt will provide financial assistance to those affected,” Rajesh Tope said while talking to the media.

    “The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh and the Mahanagar Palika will also provide Rs 5 lakhs,” the minister said.

    Tope further said that there will a detailed investigation into the matter and the culprits will be punished.

    “This incident is very unfortunate. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones,” Tope added.

    At least 13 patients died on Friday after a fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the COVID hospital.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the loss of lives in the fire incident at a COVID-19 hospital in the Virar area of Maharashtra’s Palghar district.

    The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for kin of the deceased in the incident.

    “The fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Virar is tragic. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

    “PM Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Virar, Maharashtra. Rs 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

    The incident took place around 3:30 am on the second floor of the facility, the Corona Control Room, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation informed. Three fire tenders of the Virar Fire Brigade reached the spot to douse the fire. It was extinguished by 5:20 am.

    Other COVID patients have been shifted to other hospitals.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an inquiry into the fire incident and also directed the administration to immediately inquire whether the fire safety measures at the hospital were adequate or not.

  • Ready to touch Centre’s feet for oxygen supply: Maharashtra Health minister Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: With Maharashtra facing severe shortage of medical oxygen amid the spike in COVID-19 cases, Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the state government is even willing to touch the Centre’s feet if it helps in getting the required supply of the life-saving gas.

    Speaking to reporters, he said, “The state government is willing to do everything to save the lives of people. We are making an extremely polite request, even ready to touch the Centre’s feet to get the required quantity of the liquid medical oxygen.”

    “The rights of oxygen distribution among the states is in the hands of the Union government. They should exercise their rights and ensure that Maharashtra gets more oxygen,” he said.

    The Centre should ensure that oxygen-carrying tankers get a green corridor so that they can reach quickly, Tope added.

    “I am making this request to the Centre again and again,” the minister said.

    The Maharashtra government, being run by the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, has been at loggerheads with the Centre over the supply of medical oxygen, Remdesivir injections and COVID-19 vaccines.

    The state has been alleging that the BJP-ruled Union government was giving it a step- motherly treatment.

    Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in terms of COVID- 19 cases and deaths.

  • Maharashtra allocated 50 per cent of daily Remdesivir requirement: Rajesh Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the state is being allocated 26,000 Remdesivir injections per day by the Centre as against the requirement of 50,000 vials of the anti-COVID-19 drug.

    Talking to reporters here, Tope said he will write to the Centre to increase the allocation of Remdesivir to Maharashtra, the worst COVID-19-hit state in the country.

    “The state government’s daily requirement is 50,000 Remdesivir injections, but the Centre’s allocation is 26,000 injections per day. This is for the next 10 days, which is very serious as timely use of the injections to treat co- morbid and serious COVID-19 patients can save lives,” he said.

    Remdesivir is listed for use in serious COVID-19 patients.

    In view of a sudden spike in demand of the drug due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Centre last week banned its export till the situation improves.

    “I will send a letter to the Union Health Ministry on Thursday to increase the allocation of the key anti-viral drug to Maharashtra,” the minister said.

    Tope and state Food and Drug Administration minister Rajendra Shingane few days ago had assured that the supply of Remdesivir will increase from April 21.

    On Wednesday, the state reported 67,468 fresh coronavirus cases, taking its tally beyond the 40-lakh mark, while 568 more patients succumbed to the infection, as per the health department.

    The Bombay High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for its “extremely callous” behaviour towards the issue of procuring and allocating Remdesivir injections for COVID-19 patients, and said the authorities are shirking their responsibilities.

  • Centre should give one week’s COVID vaccines at a time: Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government needs to have one week’s stock of COVID-19 vaccines at one go so that it can vaccinate up to eight lakh people on a daily basis, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

    Speaking to reporters, he said, “The Maharashtra government has several times urged the Centre to provide one week’s stock (of vaccines) at a time to the state which would enable us to inoculate up to eight lakh people daily.”

    He said that it is a huge state geographically and it takes at least two days for us to carry the vaccine stock from one corner to another. “Several letters have been sent to the Centre over it, but our demand has never been listened to. The central government’s supply of vaccines is much less than our requirement, hence our pace (of vaccination) is slow,” said the minister.

    Tope also complained that the Centre allowed only 60 metric tonnes of liquid medical oxygen from the Bhilai plant to Maharashtra. “Earlier, the proposal of liquid medical oxygen was of 110 metric tonnes (MT), but it was changed to 60 MT. But it would not be sufficient for the state for meeting the demand of oxygen in Vidarbha region,” he said.

    The state is expected to receive 200 MT each from Jamnagar refinery plant in Gujarat and a plant in Telangana. “Now we have moved our request to Jamnagar refinery to allot additional 50 MT of oxygen,” he said.

    The state government has also decided to utilise the thermal power plants in Maharashtra, where oxygen is generated in huge quantity, for medical purposes. “However, there are no bottling plants near these thermal units Khaparkheda in Nagpur, Paras in Akola and Parli in Beed. We will set up a 500-bed oxygen Covid Centre near every thermal plant, so that COVID-19 patients will get oxygen at the local level and we will be able to save many lives,” the minister said.

    ALSO READ| Maharashtra govt issues lockdown order; inter-city and inter-district travel banned except for emergency

    “The state is also planning to request various industries, where oxygen is generated at local level. We will use it for local consumption,” he said.

    Commenting on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting with Remdesivir producers, he said, “The Maharashtra government has sought a supply of 60,000 vials of Remdesivir on a daily basis. It will be distributed to hospitals via government. No individual or organisation will have any role in it.”

    “We have also told them that the state may require one lakh vials on a daily basis from May 1 onwards to treat the patients,” he said.

  • Maharashtra Health Minister assures ‘thorough probe’ into hospital oxygen leak that killed 22

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A through probe will be conducted to find out if negligence led to the leakage of oxygen at a municipal hospital in Nashik which caused the death of 22 COVID-19 patients, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

    The incident took place at Zakir Hussain municipal hospital in the north Maharashtra city earlier in the day.

    The deceased included 11 men and 11 women, all of whom were on ventilator, Tope told reporters here.

    As per the local officials, the patients died as the oxygen supply was disrupted due to a leakage in the oxygen storage plant.

    “It is a very tragic incident. It is a COVID-19 hospital run by the Nashik Municipal Corporation where 157 patients were admitted of which 67 were on ventilator,” Tope said.

    “It is yet to be ascertained if the leakage from the oxygen tank was caused by negligence or it was the issue of workmanship. The incident will be probed thoroughly,” the minister said.

    The kin of the deceased will get financial assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, he added.

    The state government will also seek opinions from experts to prevent such incidents in future, he said.

  • Maharashtra to import COVID-19 vaccines, divert funds for large-scale inoculation

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra will import vaccines from other countries and funds will be diverted from all the departments to carry out an extensive inoculation drive on the lines of the UK, the state government said on Tuesday.

    The state is worst-affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the country with more than 50,000 cases being reported daily in the last two weeks.

    ALSO READ| City’s COVID-19 mortality rate at 0.03 per cent: Brihanmumbai Municipal commissioner Iqbal S Chahal

    Welcoming the Union government’s decision to vaccinate the entire adult population of the country, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said the state cabinet on Tuesday decided to carry out an “exemplary vaccination drive”. “If required, we will cut the funds of all the other departments to ensure availability of vaccines for people,” he said after a cabinet meeting.

    Tope had earlier said the state wanted to vaccinate seven lakh persons every day but restrictions imposed by the Centre and supply constraints made it possible to inoculate only about three lakh. The state would like to follow the example of the United Kingdom which had witnessed a severe spike in COVID-19 cases last year, he said.

    “Today, 60 per cent of UK’s population is vaccinated. Very few new cases are being detected, while the death toll is in single digits. The entire country was kept under lockdown for three months and the vaccination drive was carried out on a massive scale,” he said.

    “We have decided to cut the expenses of all the departments and divert the funds for vaccine procurement. We will not limit our plans only to the two vaccines that are manufactured in the country (Covishield and Covaxin) ,” he said.

    ALSO READ| COVID-19: ‘Strict lockdown’ likely in Maharashtra, Class X board exams cancelled

    The minister said that the state government will bid for vaccines made abroad such as Sputnik-V, Pfizer and Moderna if they are available. “The state’s vaccination drive will cover people in the age group of 18 to 45, while people above 45 will be covered under the Centre’s drive for which doses will be supplied by the Centre,” he said.

    Tope said that the cabinet also asked the state chief secretary and principal secretaries of finance, health and medical education departments to expedite the procurement of medical equipment to tackle the pandemic.

  • No COVID-19 patient in Maharashtra died due to oxygen shortage: State minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI
    JALNA: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday said that no COVID-19 patient died in the state-run hospitals due to the shortage of medical oxygen. He also said most of the COVID-19 fatalities have occurred due to the delay on part of patients in seeking proper medical treatment.

    Tope termed “false” media reports that the shortage of medical oxygen resulted in the death of COVID-19 patients in some parts of the state. “I have received reports from (government) hospitals in the state. No COVID-19 patient died due to the shortage of oxygen in these hospitals,” he told reporters.

    Earlier this week, kin of 10 COVID-19 patients who died at two hospitals in Palghar district neighbouring Mumbai had alleged that a shortage of oxygen led to the deaths. Civic authorities in Palghar and the management of the medical facilities had denied these allegations.

    Tope attributed most COVID-19 fatalities due to late admission in hospitals. “Especially in rural areas, coronavirus positive patients are being traditionally treated by local doctors,” he said.

    Tope further said that people showing specific symptoms should get themselves tested for coronavirus without delay and seek medical treatment. He also appealed to eligible people to get vaccinated for COVID-19. “There are 4,200 vaccination centres in Maharashtra where eligible people can go and get themselves inoculated,” the health minister said.

    Tope also appreciated doctors and frontline workers for their efforts and dedication during the pandemic. Maharashtra, which is the worst-affected state in India, recorded a total of 37,70,707 COVID-19 cases till Saturday while 59,970 patients have died so far, as per the state health department.