With the positive Coronavirus cases touching more than 3 lakhs and 8000 lives lost in USA, President Donald Trump announced in a press briefing held on Sunday (IST) that he has requested Indian PM Modi to release the amount of Hydroxychloroquine that was ordered by USA. The drug that Trump has requested is banned by the Indian Govt for export.
Hydroxycholoroquine-a drug for treating malaria received a hype in March 2020 after US President Donald Trump referred to a study made in France where some people with Covid-19 have been cured through the drug. Bloomberg mentioned that this drug was given to 40 Covid-19 patients in France who were hospitalized. It was reported that the drug was able to clear the virus from the patients’ bodies.
Trump said “I called Prime Minsiter Modi of India this morning.They make large amounts of Hydroxychloroquine . India is giving it a serious consideration,” The Commerce Ministry of India banned the export of anti-malarial drug – and the formulations made from Hydroxychloroquine which is said to have a positive effect in treating Covid-19. The ban came into effect on 25.3.2020
At the same time the Ministry also mentioned in a statement that export made to fulfill a humanitarian cause recommended by the Government could be approved. The ban does not apply to the factories in DGFT’s Special Economic Zones. If there are proper arrangements made on or before 25.3.2020 for the export, then such prior obligations will be honored, sources said.
US Hospitals are reported to be using Hydroxycholoroquine along with other drugs to treat patients following a fast provisional approval granted by US-FDA. India Today reported that the Trump Government has actually stockpiled 29 million doses of this drug, and is in requiring more as safety measure. When questioned whether he would take it, he said “I think people should if it were me, I might take it. And I’ll have to ask my doctors about that, but I may take it”
Members of the scientific community have said that there are serious after-effects of this drug and in other places where anti-malarial drugs were tried to see whether it could cure patients, the side-effects were severe and the cure was not guaranteed. Leading infectious disease expert in US Anthony Fauci and other scientists have appealed to the public to not take such drugs until larger clinical trials are made to evaluate the potency of the drug and its effects.