Remdesivir cannot be denied to person on grounds that he is not admitted in a COVID hospital.

On 13th April, 2021 the Nagpur Bench of the High Court of Bombay clarified that unavailability of a bed cannot be grounds for denying someone Remdesivir doses. The same must be made available in the OPD of that hospital.

Relevant extracts of the said order have been reproduced below-

“If a patient is not able to get bed in a Dedicated Hospital and is required to be administered dose / doses of Remdesivir Injections, he can be given the dose / doses in the Outdoor Patient Department of that Dedicated Hospital. In such case also, the concerned hospital will have to update the details as stated earlier on the centralized portal immediately.

If a patient is not able to get the bed in a Dedicated Hospital and is not able to get service even in Outdoor Patient Department in Dedicated Hospital and such patient undergoes treatment in a Non-Dedicated Hospital and the Doctor treating such patient is of the opinion that the dose / doses of Remdesivir Injections is / are required to be administered to such patients, the Collector of the District shall ensure that the dose / doses of Remdesivir Injections is / are made available to such patient also. Such patient shall not be denied the Remdesivir Injections only on the ground that he has undergone treatment in a Non-Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital. In such case also, the Doctor (having minimum M.B.B.S. Degree) of the Non-Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital who is treating the patient will have to certify in the prescribed format with all the necessary reports that such patient requires dose / doses of Remdesivir Injections. Further, in such case also, the details shall be uploaded on the centralized portal.”