The US president Mr. Donald Trump praised Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for extending his timely help to the USA with regards to the supply of hydroxychloroquine tablets.
India is a leading supplier of the generic drugs along with hydroxychloroquine tablets usually used in the treatment of malaria disease. The said medicine is now widely used for the treatment of the fatal Corona Virus diseases Covid-19. Earlier India has imposed a stringent restriction on the export of 24 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines siting the domestic needs amid Covid-19 Fear.
Among all other countries, the US has been most severely hit by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). The infection count in the USA has crossed 4 Lakhs people with over 13 thousand deaths. President Trump had requested Prime Minister Modi for resuming the supply of hydroxychloroquine tablets to the USA considering the urgent requirements.
“I called Prime Minister Modi of India this morning. They make large amounts of Hydroxychloroquine. India is giving it a serious consideration,” Trump said on Saturday.
Responding to the global appeal, India has now decided to lift the restrictions on the 24 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines on the humanitarian grounds. India manufactures 70% of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine, according to experts. As per the reports, India has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each.
“India needs around 24 million tablets per year as on date for the three indications — malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, it was being used”.- said Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) Executive Director Ashok Kumar Madan. Reports suggests that India currently has an annual installed capacity of around 40 metric tonnes of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of hydroxychloroquine with witch 200 million tablets of 200 mg can be manufactured.
The government of India lifts restrictions on 24 active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and formulations made from them. These APIs are now allowed to be exported. pic.twitter.com/FBYxT4jw0y
— ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2020
President trump has appreciated India decision of lifting the restriction on the export of medicines. He has also thanked Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for displaying the humanitarian apporch.
Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020
However, in a bizarre comment earlier in the day, Mr. President has threatened India of retaliation if the US demand for medicines was not meet. People of India had expressed strong sentiments over social media against the statements of President Trump. Indian media had too highlighted the issue and approach of the USA towards India.
I spoke to him (PM Modi), Sunday morning & I said we appreciate it that you are allowing our supply (of Hydroxychloroquine) to come out, if he doesn’t allow it to come out, that would be okay, but of course, there may be retaliation, why wouldn’t there be?: US Pres Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/kntAqATp4J
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020