What is Hydrochloroquine?
Hydrochloroquine is nearly a century old drug used to treat malaria. This was an over the counter generic drug, which was easily available. Indian pharmaceutical companies produce over 30% of global share of this drug. However, since this is fairly cheap, being a generic drug, and has an annual market share of only Rs 152.80 crore. Nearly 80 % of what is produced in India is exported to developing countries especially in South America and Africa.
Emerging Situation in India
In the end of March 2020, Indian Council of Medical Research issued an advisory recommending use of hydrochloroquine as a preventive measure for asymptomatic health care workers treating COVID 19 patients and also allowed doctors to prescribe it house hold contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients. The Government stressed that it could only be used on prescription by a doctor, but highlighted that it should not instill a false sense of security for treatment for COVID-19.
It resulted in a sudden surge in demand of Hydrochloroquine and reports of hoarding by druggists emerged. The Government quickly declared this drug under schedule ‘H1’ of THE Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945. These are drugs which cannot be purchased over the counter and drug inspectors have the authority to raid and inspect drug dealers to check that. Accordingly Government of India had placed a ban on export on such drugs, even though many countries including the USA had placed orders and paid some advance for it.
Why has COVID-19 outbreak spotlighted this drug?
In a study in the The International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (IJAA) a French Scientist reported in early March 2020 that 20 cases being treated for COVID 19, by this drug showed significant reduction in viral carriage and much lower carrying duration. Another medicine ‘anthromycin’ when added to hydroxychloroquine was seen to be significantly more efficient for virus elimination. By end of March 2020, President Trump to call this drug a game changer. Since the drug was banned for exports in India, President Trump made a call to Indian Prime Minister, Mr Modi to release the required medicine for the US, to which the Indian PM assured that it will be duly considered. The issue of revoking the ban was referred to the select group of ministers under Mr Rajnath. On the morning of 06 April the group of ministers had taken stock of the situation and had decided to enhance production to meet the demands of nearly 30 friendly countries including the US and Brazil, since only 10 % of the production capacity was being used for Indian market.
During a press conference on 05 April 2020, which corresponds to noon time on 06 March in India, a journalist asked Mr Trump about the ban imposed by India, to which the President replied that he had spoken to the Indian PM and was hopeful of getting this help. However, when asked again if India did not supply the medicines, President Trump talked in his arrogant style of possible sanctions against India.
This raised quite many eyebrows in the diplomatic community. However no sooner that India announced its decision to resume supply of the medicine, that Mr Trump went all out to praise the Indian Prime Minister.
Mr Shashi Tharoor quickly followed by a tweet asking Mr Trump, now that India has commenced supply of this critical medicine to the US, will he be graceful enough to share the latest research in the US in the vaccines being developed in the US.