Export ban on HCQ could be lifted

NEW DELHI: India is considering lifting the ban on export of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) used in the treatment of Covid-19, people in the know told ET.Currently used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, exports of the drug hydroxychloroquine and its formulations were prohibited “without any exceptions,” India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an April 4 order on its website.However, HCQ gained spotlight after US President Donald Trump claimed it was effective on Covid-19 patients that suddenly saw a spike in demand and India withdrawing the export ban from the drug. Since then, HCQ has been exported to a lot of countries including the US.According to government sources, since April, India has been exporting HCQ on a case-by-case basis to the US, Australia, Poland, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Philippines and several African countries. Requests for imports have poured in from Bafana, Algeria, Malaysia, Congo and UAE in the last few days.Sources told ET that the government is now considering lifting the ban as there is enough evidence from the companies in India that enough stocks are available in the country.Hydroxychloroquine, an antiviral drug, emerged as a controversial treatment therapy for Covid-19. In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) initially recommended the drug for high-risk healthcare workers, but expanded the scope to include patients with severe respiratory illness and those in the ICU.India has remained constant in its directions to use HCQ. In India, HCQ is being used as a prophylaxis for Covid-19. The ICMR expanded its use for all frontline workers last week after some observational studies showed the drug helped prevent a few healthcare workers from contracting coronavirus. In India, HCQ is manufactured by drug companies IPCA and Zydus. According to sources, the recommendation to lift the ban is based on the recent decision taken by an empowered committee under minister of state chemicals and fertilisers, Mansukh Mandaviya. “There is no shortage of HCQ as of now and its production capacity has been ramped up to meet the projected demand from other countries. Therefore, it has been considered to lift the ban completely, sources further said.Government sources told ET that production of HCQ has increased over the months. India produces 10 crore tablets per month, while the requirement so far is 2 crore tablets.Ashok Madan, executive director, Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), said “It’s a welcome step. The companies have ramped up their production and it’s a good opportunity for the domestic pharma companies if the government allows exports.

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