The Centre has removed the ban on export of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) — the anti-malaria drug being used as a possible cure for Covid-19 in many countries — and has made it freely exportable.
The earlier notification prohibiting exports has been amended to change the export policy of HCQ Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and its formulations from ‘prohibited’ to ‘free’ with immediate effect, according to the latest notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on Thursday.
This means that HCQ can now be exported without special nod from the government on a purely commercial basis based on demand.
The government had banned export of the medicine on March 25 as it had feared a shortfall in supplies with the rapid spread of the Covid-19 across the country.
However, following a request for HCQ supplies made by the US and some other countries, India decided the following month to export the drug on a case-to-case basis.
On April 30, the MEA said that as there was adequate supply of HCQ in the country, India was exporting it to 87 countries to help them meet their Covid-19 related health needs.
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