Coronavirus: India to supply two key medicines to its neighbours
India today announced that it will supply two key medicines — paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine — to its neighbouring countries and some other nations badly hit by the pandemic, to bolster the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Anurag Srivastava, spokesman of India's external affairs ministry, said this morning, "In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would license paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries, who are dependent on our capabilities."
"We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations that have particularly been badly affected by the pandemic," he added.
He, however, did not specify the name of any country.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade yesterday notified lifting the restrictions on 14 drugs, said Srivastava.
Given the enormity of the Covid-19 pandemic, "India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation. This approach also guided our evacuation of nationals of other countries," he added.
India, which meets more than a fourth of the world's demand for generic drugs, had last month announced exports of 26 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines made by using them to ensure availability of stocks in domestic markets amidst mounting cases of coronavirus.
The decision announced today to supply paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine to all neighbouring countries and some badly-hit nations came a few days after US President Donald Trump telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly requesting him to lift the curb on exports of the anti-malaria drug which Trump considers as a "game-changer" in the battle against Covid-19.
Indian media reported this morning quoting Trump that the US would hit back if India refused to supply the hydroxychloroquine.
Srivastava said, "We have seen some attempts by sections of the media to create unnecessary controversy over the issue of Covid-19 related drugs and pharmaceuticals."
"Like any responsible government, our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicine for the requirement of our own people. In order to ensure this, some temporary steps were taken to restrict exports of a number of pharmaceutical products."
"In the meanwhile, a comprehensive assessment was made of possible requirements under different scenarios. After having confirmed the availability of medicines for all possible contingencies currently envisaged, these restrictions have been largely lifted."