Hydroxychloroquine

Why in news?

The Indian government has decided to ease its recent ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine.

What is hydroxychloroquine?

• It is an anti-malarial drug option.
• It is considered less toxic than chloroquine.
• It is also prescribed for patients of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Who makes this drug in India?

• Hydroxychloroquine had a market size of only around Rs 152.80 crore.
• However, several countries source the drug from India.
• Mumbai based Ipca Laboratories has nearly 82% of the market, with its brands HCQS and HYQ.
• Around 80% of the volumes produced by Ipca are exported.
• Ahmedabad-headquartered Cadila Healthcare has 8% of the market.

Why has hydroxychloroquine gained attention now?

• The International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (IJAA), reported that Azithromycin (antibiotic) added to hydroxychloroquine was significantly more efficient for COVID-19 elimination.
• However, the study was flagged as being too small to draw a definitive conclusion.
• However, by late March 2020, Trump had begun to call the drug a “game changer”, and has since been pushing it.
• At the end of March 2020, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issued an advisory.
• It recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine in asymptomatic healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients.
• ICMR also allowed doctors to prescribe it for household contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients.
• However, the government has stressed that the drug can only be used in COVID-19 treatment on prescription, and that it should not instill a sense of “false security”.
• The drug was then moved to a Schedule H1 status.
• This means patients that who needed the drug would have to get a fresh prescription every time they purchased it.
• Following the ICMR’s advisory on the drug, various patients and healthcare professionals are learnt to have stocked up hydroxychloroquine.

Why did India ban the exports?

• Trump’s statement promoting the drug not only led to panic buying in the US, but also impacted stocks in India.
• So the government banned the export of hydroxycloroquine with immediate effect, to ensure sufficient availability in the domestic market.

Why did India lift the ban now?

• The US President warned about “retaliation” if India did not heed his request for the drug.
• India clarified that it would supply to countries that needed it the most, and to neighbours who were “dependent on India’s capabilities”.
• Following this, India partially lifted the ban on the drug.
• So now, exports of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol will be allowed depending on the availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements and existing orders.
• Shipments will be restricted and permission will be on humanitarian grounds.
• This move was from the recommendation of an expert panel led by drug pricing regulator Shubhra Singh.
• The panel got enough evidence from the companies on the available stocks in the country.

Source: The Indian Express