Corona Update: India lifts ban on export of hydroxychloroquine amid trump’s “retaliation” threat

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday warned India of retaliation over its decision to ban the export of hydroxychloroquine, anti-malaria drug, that is being tested as a possible treatment for patients with COVID-19 symptom.

According to the sources, India has now approved some exports of hydroxychloroquine on tuesday, after apparent pressure from Donald Trump over the ban on potential drug to fight corona virus.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Anurag Srivastava, a government spokesperson, said that India had lifted some restrictions after officials had “confirmed the availability of medicines for all possible contingencies currently envisaged”.Srivastava added that hydroxychloroquine would be kept in a licensed category, with the demand “continuously monitored”.

As the number of deaths in the United States rises, Trump has been seen promoting the unproven drug in a way to convey hope. “What have you got to lose,” the president said on Sunday.

Last month Trump took to his Twitter account to make an announcement regarding the potential of the said drug to be “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.”

Medical experts have, however, cautioned against it saying the risk of severe side effects are extremely high. “People have their health to lose,” Dr. Patrice Harris, President of the American Medical Association said. “Your heart could stop.” Potential side effects of the drug include vision loss and heart problems. 

As India is the largest producer of pharmaceuticals in the world, it is creating uproar all across the world regarding the supply of the medicine drugs and from last month it banned the export of all the medicinal drugs to preserve for domestic supply. However, the Indian government has now confirmed that they would also lift partial restriction the ban on paracetamol exports .