WATCH: Hundreds gather outside Nehru Stadium for Remdesivir after it was sold out

Hundreds of relatives of COVID-19 patients gathered at Nehru Indoor Stadium for Remdesivir on Saturday as the distribution of the medicine has been shifted to the stadium from Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital.

Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation started the distribution of Remdesivir at the Nehru Stadium on Saturday after KMC counters became overcrowded over past few weeks. A total of 300 tokens were issued for the daily distribution and were distributed within few hours. However, more than 200 others waited at the stadium for tokens to get the medicine. Each vial is priced at Rs 1,560 by Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation.

The visitors were made to enter the stadium from 5th gate and exit from the 4th gate. Since, the social distancing norms were being flouted at KMC Remdesivir counters, social distancing was emphasised.

The officials from Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation said that the distribution of Remdesivir has been started at other government medical colleges and hospitals in Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Trichy and Salem. However, despite a specific number of doses being given to other district hospitals, people from other districts continue to travel to Chennai for the drug, mainly from Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Dharmapuri, Cuddalore and other districts.

Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine say Dr TS Selvavinayagam said that the daily requirement of 20,000 vials of Remdesivir has been communicated to the Center and more number of additional counters will be opened for the distribution of Remdesivir once more vials are allocated.