India lifts ban on export of Malaria Drugs on request of Trump, as 47% of U.S. supply of drug came from India

President Trump had called Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to supply the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine that is being used to treat Covid-19 patients and as prophylactic by the frontline health care workers deployed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

advtanmoy 07/04/2020 3 minutes read

India partially lifted a ban on the exports of a malaria drug after President Donald Trump sought supplies for the U.S. It has decided to licence paracetamol & Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on India’s capabilities, the Ministry of External Affairs announced.

Spokesperson in the MEA Anurag Srivastava said, “We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic. We would, therefore, discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter”.

Exports of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol will be allowed depending on availability of stock after meeting domestic requirements and existing orders, said the government officials.

Trump said at the White House on Monday he was unaware Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had banned the export of the drug, and noted he requested Modi to ensure supply of the medicine. If New Delhi declined to ship the medicine, the president said there may be retaliation.

As per Bloomberg Intelligence, 47% of the U.S. supply of the drug last year came from India makers.

A Gazette Notification has also been issued to lift the ban on Following Drugs :

NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th April, 2020
No. 02/2015-2020

Subject: Amendment in Export Policy of APIs and formulations made from these APIs

S.O. 1248(E).—In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, the Central Government hereby makes following amendment in the chapter 29 and 30 of the Schedule 2 of the ITCHS Export Policy amending the Notification No. 50/2015-20 dated 03.03.2020 related to export Policy of APIs and formulations made from these APIs: