KATHMANDU: Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay M. Kwatra handed over 2,000 vials of Remdesivir to Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on behalf of the government of India on Tuesday.

The medicines are part of the government of India’s ongoing assistance to Nepal in meeting the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement.

It follows on earlier support extended to Nepal in the form of ICU ventilators on August 9, COVID-19 Test Kits (RT-PCR) on May 14 and essential medicines including Paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine on April 22.

As a close friend and neighbor, India stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Nepal in their fight to prevail over the pandemic, the statement further stated.

Remdesivir medicine is regarded as a broad-spectrum anti-viral medication for treating moderate to severely ill patients on oxygen therapy.

According to medical research, the drug is proven to significantly reduce the duration of hospital stay and also diminish the recovery time of patients.