COVID-19: India Partially Lifts Ban on Export of Hydroxychloroquine and Paracetamol

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an old and inexpensive drug used to treat malaria is recognized as a game changer in the fight against COVID-19. Hence, there is a tremendous rise in the demand for this anti-malaria drug. However, India will not totally ban, but restrict the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol depending on the availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements.//

The government has decided to lift a partial ban on hydroxychloroquine after US President Donald Trump requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to export the drug to aid America's fight against the deadly Coronavirus disease.

Anti-malaria Drug Could be Gamechanger for COVID-19: Trump
Anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could potentially fight against for COVID-19 pandemic, says US President Trump.

‘Coronavirus: India partially lifts ban on export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol after Donald Trump's retaliation warning. ’
Read More..

Tweet it Now

Official sources quoted by news agency IANS that the government will clear the existing orders immediately on humanitarian grounds. The Centre, sources said, will not ban but restrict the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol depending on the availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements.

The Ministry of External Affairs and pharma industry will decide on such allocations depending on the humanitarian crisis, sources said.

President Trump had called Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to supply the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine that is being used to treat Covid-19 patients and as prophylactic by the frontline health care workers deployed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Modi government had imposed a ban on export of the drug since the coronavirus outbreak hit India.

Coronavirus
Coronaviruses infect animals, humans, and birds. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV cause respiratory distress and even death. The S protein is the infectious agent of the virus.

The US as of now has the highest number of the novel coronavirus cases in the world, with over 367,000 cases of infections and over 10,800 deaths. Relatively, India has managed to contain the pandemic with 136 deaths and over 4,700 cases of infections.

On Monday, the Donald Trump administration provided $2.9 million in aid to India to help fight against the novel coronavirus disease.

Disinfect Your Office to Wipe Out Deadly Coronavirus
Deadly coronavirus can thrive in your office too. Cleaning and disinfecting your office regularly can help fight against COVID-19.

Source-IANS

Self-testing Your Sense of Smell may Help Detect Coronavirus
Sudden loss of smell has emerged as a significant symptom in about 60 percent of COVID-19 patients, reports a new study.