Fake Remdesivir Injection Kills Doctor, Hospital Loses COVID-19 Treatment License

A doctor in India died after he was administered a fake dose of anti-viral drug Remdesivir at a hospital.

The incident led to the health department canceling the private hospital's COVID-19 treatment license. The hospital was also fined nearly $1,370.

The police in the southern state of Tamil Nadu said they are working toward arresting the doctor who sourced the fake drug from I-Med Super Speciality Hospital. Tamil Nadu Health Minister M.A. Subramanian said the matter was brought to the attention of the chief minister and an investigation was underway, The Times of India reported Wednesday. Officials from the health department visited the hospital following the death of the doctor and found several irregularities regarding treatment and protocol violations.

"Our inquiries revealed that the drug was given to Dr Raman (the victim) by Dr Suresh, a senior orthopedic surgeon who sourced it from Puducherry and his condition deteriorated after that. We have recommended action against Dr Suresh. A police case has been filed against him based on the inquiry. It's sad to see such an inhuman act. We will initiate action against violators under Drugs and Cosmetics Act," the report quoted the health minister as saying.

The victim had tested positive and received Remdesivir through Dr. Suresh, who was working at the private hospital, The Hindu reported. After his health deteriorated, Dr. Raman was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai. He died on May 13.

The incident comes as senior doctors in India have said they are considering dropping Remdesivir from COVID-19 treatment soon. Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, chairperson Dr D.S. Rana told local media recently there was no evidence of the drug's effectiveness in treating COVID-19 patients. His comments came as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advised discontinuing the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

"If we talk about other medicines which we use in COVID treatment, there is no such evidence regarding Remdesivir that works in Covid-19 treatment. Medicines that do not have any activity to work, will have to be discontinued," he said, according to Zee Media.

India is currently battling the second wave of the deadly coronavirus. The country saw a record 4,529 fatalities due to COVID-19 in a single day Tuesday pushing the death count to 283,248. More than 260,000 fresh infections were recorded, taking the total tally of cases to more than 25 million, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.