Remdesivir injection, which was considered a crucial drug in COVID-19 treatment protocol, became a household name during the second wave of the pandemic in 2021. While the pandemic threat has receded, it turns out that the Karnataka Government is yet to pay the dues to companies supplying the drug, which adds up to ₹200-odd crore, on account of violation of a tender condition that testing 10% of all supplies to the government is mandatory.
More than a year after the drug was supplied, payments to major pharma companies are stalled due to this violation.
During the second wave of the pandemic in 2021, the critical injection was procured by the government through Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL), a nodal agency for procurement of all government-related medical supplies in the State.
