As America reels under Corona attack, Huge Consignment of Indian Drug arrives at US!

A consignment of 35 lakh tablets of Hydroxychloroquine from India arrived at the United States on Saturday.  The anti- malarial drug is anticipated to cure COVID- 19. Earlier this week, India at the request of President Donald Trump, cleared the export of 35.2 lakh tablets along with nine metric tons of API required for manufacturing the drug.  

"Supporting our partners in the fight against Covid-19. Consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India arrived at Newark airport today," India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu tweeted. This move was highly appreciated by the citizens of the United States.

India is a major manufacturer of the drug and contributes to over 70% of the total supply. Initially India had banned the export of this drug allowing only limited exceptions of export done only to fulfill prior commitments that were made. Trump, during a phone call last week requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the ban and export the drug to USA and other countries that face a deficit in supply of the drug.  “After the call today (Saturday) with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is giving serious consideration to releasing the hold it put on a US order for hydroxychloroquine," Trump was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The news about a partial lift on the ban of Hydroxychloroquine and Paracetamol came on 7th April from the government. “In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would license paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities”, Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs said to The Print on Tuesday.

Research on the effectiveness of the anti- malarial drug as a cure to COVID- 19 is ongoing. There is widespread anticipation that this drug could cure corona virus, especially after President Trump’s reiteration of the same on various occasions. Hydroxychloroquine is generally used to treat malaria and arthritis. Previous case histories suggest that the drug contains anti- viral properties. Its efficacy in curing the novel corona virus is yet to be established through medical research.