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To curb the illegal sale of essential drugs amid the rising novel coronavirus infections in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Police have launched an extensive drive to check black marketing and hoarding of Remdesivir and other drugs used for treatment of COVID-19 and overcharging people coming for these drugs.
"The state government has instructed the police to act tough against people who are black-marketing COVID-19 medicines," said a government spokesman.
It may be recalled that the Yogi Adityanath government invoked the provisions of stringent National Security Act (NSA) against three persons who were arrested by the Kanpur unit of Special Task Force (STF) earlier this week with 265 Remdesivir injections meant for sale in the black market.
A total of 265 vials were recovered from the arrested men identified as Sachin Kumar, Mohan Soni and Prashant Shukla, who were selling the drug for Rs 4,000 to earn more than Rs 10 lakh.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued strict instructions to the UP Police, State Health Department and State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor the availability and check black marketing and hoarding of drugs essential for treatment of COVID-19 patients and to ensure that they were not being sold at high prices.
"It is a crime against humanity and no one dealing in hoarding and black-marketing of COVID-19 medicines should be spared. The police should work with the policy of zero tolerance to instill fear in the minds of the culprits," the chief minister instructed the officials.
Despite the availability of eight essential drugs, including Remdesivir, in abundant quantities in the state, its sale in the black market has raised concerns. The government has directed the authorities concerned to verify the stock and take immediate action against black marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir.
To strengthen the process further, the authorities have been asked to instruct enforcement staff to keep strict vigil especially at sensitive places and to take instant action by conducting raids, special drive for monitoring and investigation.
According to ADG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar, no illegal activity will be tolerated in this time of crisis and those who are exploiting people and creating artificial shortage of medicine will face the strictest punishment.
"The state government is fully committed to facilitate easy availability of (Remdesivir) vials and other Covid-related medicines to its people, whereas, various agencies of police have been deployed to check the illegal sales," he added.
Meanwhile, the STF is trying to crack the nexus to curb black-marketing of Remdesivir vials.
Remdesivir is a key medicine used in the treatment of COVID-19. Taking advantage of the rising demand, some people have been selling the vials at high prices.