Fighting COVID-19: Nepal depends on India for Remdesivir drugs

The drug is being used as a part of COVID-19 treatment across the world.

Sapana's (name changed) father is admitted to a private hospital in Kathmandu and undergoing treatment at intensive care unit (ICU), as he was confirmed to have contracted the virus. She asked her chemist, who had contacts in India, to order Remdesivir as it was not available in Nepal, reports ANI.

"As my chemist had contacts in India, he was able to bring it to Nepal. Now, my father is doing well and is out of danger. If the medicine was not available in India, his condition would have become worrisome," Sapana told the Indian news agency.

According to Sapana, the drug costs up to Rs 7,000 in India and around 20,000 Nepali rupees in the Himalayan nation, including freight charges

Speaking on the need of importing the drug from India or the US, Dr Prabhat Adhikari, a virologist, told ANI: "If we can import it in large amounts then relatives of COVID-19 patients would not need to pay the extra charges which come as freight and commissions. Hope, the drug would be imported as soon as possible from India and the US."

COVID-19 has hit normal life in both India and Nepal.

Nepal PM KP Oli recently called Indian PM Narendra Modi over phone and wished him over Independence Day.

During the conversation, Modi offered to help Nepal fight the disease, which is believed to have originated from China.

"The leaders expressed mutual solidarity in the context of the efforts being made to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries. Prime Minister offered India’s continued support to Nepal in this regard," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.