In a latest development to the ongoing war against COVID-19 across the world, India has finally agreed to supply HCQ to its neighbours as well as some countries that have been adversely affected by the novel coronavirus. Just some hours after the American President Donald Trump warned New Delhi of serious “retaliation” if it does not allow the US to import HCQ from India, the Modi government agreed to relax the blanket that has earlier been imposed on the export of the drug. This drug has bee recommend for the treatment of patients having COVID-19.
Anurag Srivastatava, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, “ In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would license the export of Paracetamol and HCQ inappropriate qualities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities. We will also be supplying these essential drugs to nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.”
He however did not specifically mention the name o the countries to which these essential drugs would be supplied.
The United States of America is presently the worst hit tin and atlas 3 lakh people have been infected by the virus and 10,000 of them have died.
The imposition of the blanket ban on the export of the drug by the Indian government led to some difficulties in the Trump administration’s plans of importing the drug from India. Just hours are the Directorate General of Foreign Trade of the Government of India issued the notification barring the export of HCQ “without any exception” Trump made a request to PM Modi to relax the ban so that the US can have access to it from India. India has been receiving similar requests from other countries too. The pressure however exerted by the Trump administration on India, led to to permission being granted very soon.
New Delhi had avoided a strong comment on Trump’s retaliation remark and finally gave into the request put forward by the USA. The MHA said that the government of India believed in strong international solidarity while dealing with this global pandemic. The Opposition however critiqued India’s move and said that it should have first ensured that it had adequate stocks of medicine for its own people, just like any other responsible government should.
India has 4,200 people infected by COVID-19 and more than 100 people have lost they lives.
