Indian-American CEO Helps Critical Patients During Hurricane Harvey

Harish Katharani, the founder and CEO of Southside Group of Companies, shipped a rare disease medication to a hospital in Texas after all logistics company were unable to deliver the emergency medicine due to Hurricane Harvey.

Vital Drug for Critical Patients

 The drug, which was needed for critical patients, was not available at Children’s Hospital, and they called Katharani for help, PTI reported. Impavido is the only oral treatment drug used for critically ill patients with Leishmaniasis and it is very expensive, priced around $49,000, because of which it isn’t easily available in pharmacies.

Photo credit: Southside Group of Companies website

The CEO of the pharmacy firm got the medication shipped to Houston from Orlando through one of his employees who picked it up and delivered it to the Children’s Hospital during Harvey, which has been called the most powerful hurricane to hit the US mainland in more than a decade.

Catastrophic Flooding

The “life-threatening” flooding has covered many regions with about 30 inches of rain, going up to 50 in some areas, according to The New York Times. Around 13 million people have been affected by the calamity.

Jagdip Ahluwalia, the executive director of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, said he was proud that one of their Chamber members was going an extra mile to help the community during the crisis.

Helping the Community

Southside, the pharmacist-owned and operated company, was founded  in 1992. The company ships specialty medication to over 35 states. Katharani came to the US in 1972.

During the hurricane, the firm has kept its pharmacies open during the regular hours on weekends, but pharmacist and nurses are available 24/7 to help people affected by the hurricane.