India lifts partial ban on the export of anti-malaria drugs to fight coronavirus

New Delhi : India on Tuesday partially eased norms on exports of anti-malaria drug hydroxycloroquine, refusing that the decision came after a retaliation warning from Donald Trump to India.

Hydroxychloroquine tablet is seen as a viable therapeutic solution to cure Covid-19 disease that has so far affected over a million people across the world.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, people familiar to the matter have claimed that the export of hydroxycloroquine tablets and paracetamol will be allowed only after meeting the domestic demand of the drugs.

India, the largest producer of hydroxycloroquine, initially banned exports of the drug on March 25 to ensure adequate domestic supplies. The rules were tightened on April 4 by barring exports of hydroxycloroquine and formulations made from it from special economic zones (SEZs) and export-oriented units (EOUs). Such bans don’t usually apply to SEZs and EOUs, which are meant to promote exports.

However, the US President Donald Trump and Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro requested India to allow the supply for treatment of coronavirus patients in their countries.

“There has been a partial lifting of the ban, and hydroxycloroquine and paracetamol exports will continue to be restricted,” said one of the people cited above who declined to be named.

“Depending on availability of stocks of hydroxycloroquine after meeting domestic requirements, existing orders will be cleared,” the person said.