The Antiviral Of Interest raises a multitude of questions. On one hand, ICAC is furiously putting its staffs on the trail and on the other hand, the generics of this treatment are being sold at various prices as authorised by the Price Fixing Information System with a maximum margin of approximately 35%.
ICAC’s progress
ICAC’s investigation began on 13 December. As of Tuesday 14 December, investigators have already visited the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Commerce, the customs offices and the premises of CPN Distributors Ltd and the home of its Director, Jay Kumar Chuttoo, known as Akash, in Montagne Longue. The officers of ICAC are trying to bring to light the allegedly suspicious and fraudulent transactions that have been causing a stir since last Friday and those responsible.
Interrogation of Jay Kumar Chuttoo
After the search at Long Mountain, Akash Chuttoo was taken to the ICAC office for questioning. On his release, Jay Kumar Chuttoo, through Jean Marie Richard, the Director of Media Talks and Communications Manager of CPN Distributors, announced that “the file is available in full transparency to the authorities and will cooperate fully with the investigators. CPN Distributors has concluded this sale operation legally and in accordance with the law” . Regarding the importation of this drug, Jean-Marie Richard maintains that CPN Distributors has all the necessary authorisations and documents and highlighted in passing that there was no abuse of the resale price to the Ministry of Health.
Jay Kumar Chuttoo, leaving the ICAC at 7.30 pm where he was questioned since 4.30 pm, said: “I am very serene, I have all the papers and permits, I have nothing to hide, we are letting ICAC proceed with its investigation. In the end, we have provided a life-saving drug for Mauritians and that is something we are proud of. Merck has several laboratories under license. Optimus Laboratory in India has spun its own API and formulation. All the labs are under composition and formulation. We have COPP, DCGI Certificate, DCE Certificate and we have done our NOC and import permits”. He maintains that there has been no abuse of CPN Distributors and that he will be informed on a future query. A Management Procurement Officer and a pharmacist at the Ministry of Health were also interviewed.
Modified expiry date will be of interest
The expiry date required by the Ministry, which has been reduced from 18 to 7 months, is also at the heart of ICAC’s investigations. The generic Molcovir, imported by CPN Distributors Ltd, has an expiry date of July 2022 for its two shipments, the first of 699,000 capsules that arrived in Mauritius at the end of November and the second of 300,000 capsules that arrived in early December. The Molcovir was purchased from Optimus Laboratories in India at a cost of Rs 72, according to Jean Marie Richard. It should be noted that this drug from CPN Distributors is already being used by the health services.
Molnupiravir in pharmacies
The treatment is available under different names and distributed by several retailers. As Yamini Moothoosamy, President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Mauritius (PAM), explains, “Currently, the Molnupiravir 200 mg on the Mauritian market are at an average of Rs 2500. Movfor 200 mg, imported by Scott Health, is priced at Rs 57.55 per unit or Rs 2,302.07 for a box of 40, while Morvir 200 mg, imported by AE.Patel & Co, is priced at Rs 2,175 for a box, or Rs 54.37 per unit. Molxvir 200 mg, by HealthActive of IBL Ltd, is Rs 50 or Rs 2,000 per box of 40 tablets, or Rs 50 per unit”. Regarding the various prices, Yamini Moothoosamy points out that “the market price depends on the purchase price from the producing laboratory. The maximum margin calculated by the Price Fixing Unit is 11.6% for importers, 21.6% for pharmacy retailers and 2% for transport, i.e. approximately 35%,” she says. However, there is currently no stock control within the Pharmacy Board, except that the drug is available only on prescription. Yamini Moothoosamy warns those who will find a way to get it as a precaution: “Molnupiravir must absolutely be prescribed by a doctor due to its various effects on different cases of co-morbidity, just like any other drug in the treatment of Covid 19. Namely, the other drugs on sale at the moment are the antivirals Favipiravir, that is Fabiflu 400mg at Rs 1798.77, Favirom 400mg at 1812.90 and BD Favi 200mg at Rs 1812.90” she clarifies. Other generics of Molnupiravir will soon appear on the market such as Molnutor 400mg, imported by Gray Inc Ltd, whose price is not yet fixed, the famous Molena 200mg by Mauritius Pharmacy (Seegobin) Ltd at Rs 9.30, the generic by Hyperparm bought at Rs 59.2 million and supposed to be at Rs 74 per unit and eventually or probably, the Molcovir by CPN Distributors distributed by Unicorn Ltd at Rs 79.90
