Nagpur: Ensure adequate oxygen, drug stock before third Covid wave, says FDA minister Rajendra Shingne

NAGPUR: Food and drugs administration (FDA) minister Rajendra Shingne, who was on a tour of Nagpur on Saturday, has asked his department to ensure that adequate oxygen supply and drug availability for a possible Covid-19 third wave are maintained, during a review meeting at Ravi Bhavan.
Shingne also urged the officials to crack down on adulterated food material, especially in the backdrop of the ongoing festive season.
Shingne, through a video clip release, said he had instructed FDA officials to focus on the oxygen generation infrastructure, stocking, supply channels along with the availability of crucial anti-Covid drugs like Remdesivir before the onset of the projected third wave in the coming months.
“I have asked FDA officials — not only in Nagpur division but also in rest of the state — to ensure the oxygen supply and medicine stocks are maintained,” he said. Shingne reviewed the current stocks of oxygen at different centres, along with availability of the anti-Covid drugs.
Apart from Covid, Shingne is also learnt to have taken stock of the availability of the anti-fungal drugs for mucormycosis and other related diseases which had come in the wake of the second wave earlier this year.
Shingne also laid stress on the busting of adulteration rackets, especially involved with milk and milk products, edible oil, mawa and sweets during the festive season. He has also instructed FDA officials to conduct meetings with hoteliers, restaurant owners, food manufacturers and such units to create awareness against adulteration and related laws.
Shingne also asked the officials to ensure the numbers of searches and raids conducted are stepped up. “We will also address the issues of manpower availability and the current vacancies in different units of FDA,” said Shingne.