New Delhi, Apr 6: India on Tuesday said that it would licence Paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all it’s neighbouring countries, who are dependent on it’s capabilities.
‘We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations, who have been particularly badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,’ official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivasatava said in a statement here.
Given the enormity of the pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation.
The spokesperson was responding to queries on whether India would be supplying HCQ to the US, where the pandemic has acquired severe proportions and President Donald Trump, in a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, had reportedly sought supply of HCQ from India, as it’s export was restricted by the government.
Without naming the US, the statement pointed out that India would also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations, who have been badly affected by the pandemic.
‘We would, therefore, discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter,’ the statement said.
The spokesperson said that international cooperation and solidarity also guided India’s evacuation of nationals of other countries.
‘In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries, who are dependent on our capabilities. We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic,’ the statement said.
Referring to some attempts by sections of the media to create unnecessary controversy over the issue of COVID-19 related drugs and pharmaceuticals, the spokesperson said that like any responsible government, ‘our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicines for the requirement of our own people.’
In order to ensure this, some temporary steps were taken to restrict exports of a number of pharmaceutical products. In the meanwhile, a comprehensive assessment was made of possible requirements under different scenarios.
‘After having confirmed the availability of medicines for all possible contingencies currently envisaged, these restrictions have been largely lifted. The DGFT has notified lifting restrictions on 14 drugs yesterday.
‘With regard to paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), they will be kept in a licensed category and their demand position would be continuously monitored. However, the stock position could allow our companies to meet the export commitments that they had contracted,’ the statement added.
