India considering Donald Trump's request to lift ban on anti-malaria drugs

New Delhi : A day after the US President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lifting the export ban on hydroxychloroquine tablets which can be used for the treatment of coronavirus in America, it has been learned that the Indian authorities are considering the request and may lift ban soon.

According to people familiar with the development in New Delhi, the request is under consideration with India expected to take a call after assessing its own domestic requirement of the drug.

On late Saturday, Donald Trump requested PM Narendra Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets to his country that has the most number of coronavirus cases till date.

Hydroxychloroquine tablets are used for the treatment of malaria.

At his White House coronavirus task force briefing late Saturday, Trump said he had reached out to India for supply of hydroxychloroquine. The US recorded the highest number of deaths on the same day, more than 1,300, due to covid-19.

“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.

“India makes a lot of it. They need a lot too for their billion-plus people. The hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug, will be released through the Strategic National Stockpile for treatment," he said.

“I said I would appreciate it if they would release the amounts that we ordered," he added.