Earlier, President Donald Trump had requested India to export anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine to the US to fight coronavirus. On humanitarian grounds, the center will not ban but restrict the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol depending on the availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements
Trump’s request
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said that he has asked help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the sale of Hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug.
The 73-year-old has said “there may be retaliation” if India does not allow to export hydroxychloroquine, a key anti-malarial drug considered by many to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus.
When a reporter asked whether he was worried about “retaliation to the US ban on the export of medical goods” from India.
“I would be surprised if he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) would, you know because India does very well with the United States,” Mr. Trump said at a White House press briefing on Monday.
“I don’t like that decision, I didn’t hear that that was his decision. I know that he stopped it for other countries. I spoke to him yesterday, we had a very good talk and we’ll see whether or not that’s his… For many years, they’ve been taken advantage of the United States on trade. So I would be surprised if that were his decision. He’d have to tell me that. I spoke to him Sunday morning, called him, and I said, we’d appreciate you allowing our supply to come out. If he doesn’t allow it to come out. That would be OK. But of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn’t there be?,” the US President said.
US President Donald Trump hints at retaliation if India turns down America’s request for export of #Hydroxychloroquine
Howdy Modi?pic.twitter.com/AZy1JP6VIJ
— Rofl Republic (@i_theindian) April 7, 2020
India lifts ban
India, the world’s main supplier of generic drugs, however, has decided to lift a partial ban on hydroxychloroquine after US President Donald Trump requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to export the drug to aid America’s fight against the deadly COVID-19 disease.
Official sources said that the government will clear the existing orders immediately on humanitarian grounds. The Centre, sources said, will not ban but restrict the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol depending on the availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements.
The Ministry of External Affairs and the pharma industry will decide on such allocations depending on the humanitarian crisis, sources said.
In view of the humanitarian aspects of #COVID19 pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol & Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pic.twitter.com/W7Vox2sd2E
— ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2020
The US as of now has the highest number of novel coronavirus cases in the world, with over 367,000 cases of infections and over 10,800 deaths. Relatively, India has managed to contain the pandemic with 136 deaths and over 4,700 cases of infections.
