(Image source from: businessinsider.com)

Upon the threats of retailiation from US President Donald Trump, India has approved a few exports of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that has been touted to be quite effective for the treatment of the novel coronavirus.

The tablets are predominantly used for the prevention and treatment of malaria, lupus and even rheumatoid arthritis. Over the past few weeks, owing to the better results that have been seen, the US President Donald Trump has been very persistent over the administration of the drug for faster recovery.

Even though Trump has been pretty persistent with the use of this drug, there have been no conclusive researches to show the effectiveness of this drug in proper clinical trials.

India, which is the highest manufacturer of the drug, put a temporary ban on the export of the same in order to preserve the domestic stocks, in case conditions take a turn for the worse in India amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

It was later on in Tuesday that a government official, Anurag Srivastava clarified saying that India has taken off the temporary ban on the export of this drug and even “confirmed the availability of medicines for all possible contingencies currently envisaged.”

Srivastava even said that they would keep a close eye on the stocks and monitor the needs of the same in case things to do a turn for the worse and immediate stocks are needed again.

The partial lifting of the ban on these drugs came after Trump threatened with retaliation in case India fails to export the drugs as the needs arise.

The statement was made by Donald Trump in one of the White House briefings saying, “I spoke to him [Modi] Sunday morning, called him, and I said we’d appreciate your 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?”

With the minimal impacts that hydroxychloroquine has shown, Trump has taken an obsession over this drug, trying to paint out any possible situation to administer them on the patients to cure the impacts of Covid-19.

The US President believes that this anti-malaria drug is a “game changer” that they have been on the lookout for. Studies are being carried out by the scientists to test its efficacy but there are not enough clinical trials that prove the fool proof impact of this drug for the treatment of the coronavirus.

Despite the lack of proper evidences, the drug is being administered to over 1500 patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Apart from US, even the neighbouring countries of India including Sri Lanka and Nepal have put forth their order for the drug. To that, India has stated saying that they would tend to the exports on the case by case basis.

Since India is one of the biggest manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, the imposed ban on some of the drugs posed as a threat for several other countries. As of now, the ban has been partially lifted to ensure better exports due to the rising needs of the other nations at this point.

By Somapika Dutta