Though experts have expressed caution against the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 as there is limited data on its efficacy, the drug is in “high demand” across the world.
India, where the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed its use for prevention among healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts of confirmed cases, is stepping up to address that demand.
“Exports (of the drug) to the first list of countries have been approved, and we are working on second and third list now,” said Dammu Ravi, additional secretary, ministry of external affairs and co-ordinator of COVID-19. Almost “all countries” had been requesting for the drug, and sometimes the demand is high and has to be “rationalised”. The decision is based on “internal consultations” with the department of pharma, health, and other relevant departments in the empowered committee.
“Those who made the first requests were considered....Of course, the neighbourhood is very important, and countries that are vulnerable and need it the most. We considered the global situation too, and that is how the first list came through. Every time we make a decision to export, we look at internal stock, availability, requirement and buffer stocks,” Ravi said, adding that the government was taking a “balanced, rationalised” decision on exports.
He added that domestic requirements had been factored in. “HCQ is in high demand globally. Many countries have requested for it. Considering domestic stock availability and our requirement, group of ministers decided to release some surplus stock for export,” he said.
According to Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, the current stocks in the country amount to 3.28 crore tablets of the drug. Agarwal said the current projection for domestic demand is one crore tablets, and the projection for month-end is 1.6 crore tablets. “Additional supply of two-three crore tablets are also being arranged,” he said.
On the issue of community transmission of COVID-19 in the country, the government insisted that there is “no community transmission.” According to a study by ICMR that was released on Thursday, 1.8 per cent of Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) patients (5,911) had tested positive for COVID-19.
Of these, 40 per cent did not have a travel history or contact with someone who had travelled abroad or a known case of COVID-19. “If there’s community transmission in the country, then we will be the first to let you know so that extra precautions can be taken,” Agarwal said. “Besides, the 1.8 per cent cases had been detected only in areas where our laboratories are located, in areas where cases of COVID-19 have already been detected. If no travel history or contact with someone with travel history has been found, then further investigation is needed,” said Agarwal. “In areas where number of cases rise, contact tracing might not have been done properly. There is no community transmission in the country,” he added.
On April 10, health ministry data suggested that 503 people recovered, and 678 new cases and 33 deaths had been reported in the last 24 hours.
On evacuations, Ravi said as of Thursday, 20,473 foreign nationals have been evacuated from India on request of foreign governments, and added that this is an ongoing process.
“Given the ongoing lockdown, we are not able to give a definite answer with regard to return of Indians abroad. We need to assess situation and decide at a later stage,” he said. “Our ambassadors and high commissions are in touch with Indians abroad. They are being guided and given all support. MEA Helplines also are active; calls are being answered and guidance is being given,” he added.
