Delhi: Paying an arm for bootleg Remdesivir — and not getting it eventually

NEW DELHI: One must have seen at least a thousand SOS messages in social media for Remdesivir, a name that will forever remind of Covid-19. In the past two weeks, the demand for this anti-viral injection has gone through the roof, forcing desperate people to pay any amount asked for a vial of the drug, frequently opening them up to the risk of being duped.
Reena, who is based in Kolkata, was looking for the injection for her cousin’s father in Jorbagh, central Delhi.Speaking to TOI, Reena said, “Since my cousin was busy taking care of her father, who even now is in critical condition, she requested us to call people selling Remdesivir. We stumbled upon a number, and the seller asked for an advance. He promised to give us six vials for Rs 28,000. The payment had to be transferred to an account whose holder name was listed as ‘Cipla Company e Foundation Ltd’. He asked for the prescription, Covid reports and Aadhaar card details. We sent these and transferred the money.”
Having been told that the vials would be delivered to the hospital or to the patient directly, the family waited in vain. Neither were the vials delivered nor was the money returned. “At a time when people are fighting to save their loved ones, it is sad to see this sort of unscrupulous acts are being perpetrated,” rued Reena.
Palak too was duped by the same person. “I was looking for Remdesivir for a relative. I received a contact number on a college friends WhatsApp group and since the payment account had the Cipla name, I trusted it and went ahead,” narrated Palak. “The seller asked me to pay Rs 10,000 as advance, which I did. He promised delivery by 6pm the following day. The vial never reached us. I only want to say that money can be earned again, but someone’s life cannot be brought back.”
Palak sent an email to Cipla apprising the drug company of the fraud and also filed an FIR. “Cipla responded by saying it was an unfortunate incident and that it had also come to their notice. They have been issuing cautionary notes to the public on all social media platforms regarding this, their email said,” Palak mumbled.
Southwest Delhi resident Pramukhesh, 28, eight of whose relatives are Covid-positive, was on the lookout for the injection. “The injection is required to treat Covid patients but not everyone can pay such amounts. My 45-year-old cousin was struggling for life in an east Delhi hospital and her husband paid Rs 50,000 for two vials and picked them up from Gurgaon,” said Pramukhesh. “I feel its gross negligence on the administration’s part not to regulate the sale of this vital medicine. People are running around for the injection and are being charged a bomb for it.”
Like Pramukhesh, many Delhiites are wondering how they can afford to pay so much for bootleg Remdesivir. “We paid Rs 50,000 for two vials and there are people who need six vials!” exclaimed Pramukhesh.