Reacting to Trump's retaliation threat India allows Hydroxychloroquine export

In a move after Trump's threat to retaliate if India fails to send medicines, India has lifted ban of export of essential medicine on a case-by-case scenario where surplus available drugs like paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine can be exported.

After frantic requests for hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that has been touted as a potential "game-changer" for Covid-19 patients by US President Donald Trump, India on Tuesday decided to relax the complete ban placed on its export on Saturday.

After the Directorate General of Foreign Trade's notification putting a complete prohibition on the export of hydroxychloroquine and its formulations, the order will now be revised to put it under the licenced category.

India is one of the world's largest manufacturers of the anti-malarial drug and according to the Indian Drug Manufacturer's association. They claim it has enough capacity to cater to both global and local markets.

Still, the virologists and infectious disease experts opined that hydroxychloroquine has not be proved to be effective. The decision to lift ban is said to have been made after the US President and Brazilian President had requested supplies for the medicine.

It is to be noted that, few hours before the decision was announced, the US President had threatened India with retaliation if the exports were not allowed to America.

The DG, Foreign Trade had issued a list of 14 drugs on Monday against which the restrictions were lifted. This included Neomycin, Erythromycin, Tinidazole, Metronidazole, Acyclovir, Vitamin Bs, Progestrone and some other formulations.