Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the Centre is ensuring adequate supply of hydroxychloroquine—the anti-malarial drug that is being blazoned all over the world as the tipping point in the battle against COVID-19.
India, apparently, produces more than 70 per cent of the world's supply of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The department of pharmaceuticals comes under the ministry of chemicals and fertlisers that Gowda heads.
Speaking to THE WEEK, Gowda said, "We are assessing the domestic requirements of HCQ on a daily basis. We have the capacity to produce HCQs in large numbers. We have identified active pharma ingredients (APIs) that go into the making of such drugs, so that we are self-sufficient. The government has already placed order for HCQ tablets with Ipca Labs. We will get 3.21 crore HCQ tablets for domestic use in a week."
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India produces 40 tonnes of HCQ every month, which is roughly 20 crore tablets, each of 200mgs.
"There is no need to panic. Only excess HCQ will be exported to other countries. First preference, of course, is for us [Indians]," said Gowda.
In India, Ipca Labs, Zydus Cadila and Wallace Pharmaceuticals are the major companies manufacturing HCQ. Ipca, in fact, is HCQ's top manufacturer globally. It produces HCQ in five of its plants in western India. One of the best-known anti-malarial drugs, a HCQ tablet costs less than Rs 3 in India. A COVID-19 patient, in usual circumstances, needs a course of 14 tablets. HCQ is also given to people who suffer from autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Close to 65 per cent of all APIs required by India to manufacture such drugs come from China. The government is now giving incentives for local manufacturing of APIs that will help in making India self-sufficient.
A neurologist in Malappuram, Kerala, told THE WEEK, "We cannot for sure say that HCQ tablets work well in treating COVID-19 patients. But, prevention is better than cure. Trials are going on across the world. We will get clarity on whether the tablet works, soon."
The neurologist said HCQ tablets have some side-effects, though. "Cardiotoxity (condition when there is damage to the heart muscle) is one of the side-effects when you keep having these tablets. I have the tablet regularly as I am seeing, on an average, five patients daily. My wife, who is also a doctor, takes the tablet before meeting patients. The Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended HCQ prophylaxis for health care workers and doctors who could get exposed to patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Being doctors who are at the forefront of this battle, we have no other option but to take HCQ."
The neurologist said the health care system in Kerala is better than most states. "The government sector is working very hard here. But, if cases increase, things will go out of hand," he said.
