Manufacturers say there is enough stock for local needs.
India, the world’s
largest producer of hydroxychloroquine
(HCQ), exported $51 million worth of the drug in FY19. This was a minuscule
portion of the country’s $19-billion pharma exports.
In FY20, however,
exports had dipped to $36 million till February. With US President Donald Trump
campaigning for HCQ, global demand for the inexpensive drug has surged all of a
sudden. Countries like Brazil and India’s SAARC neighbours have sought the drug
from India.
The Centre itself
has requisitioned 100 million tablets from Ipca Laboratories and Cadila
Healthcare. Manufacturers claim there is enough stock for the Indian market,
and that the surplus could be exported. They are gearing up to supply the same
to the government within this month.
Further, China
does not make HCQ and India is the lead global supplier, they add.
HCQ and
chloroquine phosphate are in the same class of drugs. Chloroquine is an
anti-malarial used to prevent and treat malaria.
HCQ, on the other
hand, is used to treat auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,
and as a third-line treatment for diabetes.
Some health
researchers have used HCQ,
along with a combination of a common antibiotic azithromycin, as a potential
treatment for Covid-19. In a government advisory, India recommended the use of
HCQ for healthcare workers and high-risk individuals to prevent contracting the
infection.
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