India has become the largest producer and exporterofHydroxychloroquine(HCQ), the most talked out medicine to curb the COVID-19 disease, with 70% of annual global production according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA); Sec-General Sudarshan Jain. India as largest HCQ producer: Currently, our nation is producing 40 tonnes, or 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each, of HCQ every month. The top pharma companies manufacturing this drug are Ipca Laboratories Ltd., ZydusCadila and Wallace Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Use of HCQ: Indian government has recommended the use of HCQ as a prophylaxis (prevention) and not as treatment. It has recommended for healthcare workers involved in the treatment of the disease or as a preventive medication for Covid-19 patients in the high-risk group.Each Covid-19 patient needs a 14-tablet course. Originally hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug.
India has approved some exports of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug being touted as a possible corona virus treatment, after apparent pressure from Donald Trump, who has been urging Americans to take it. The tablets are used to prevent and treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis but over the past week the US president has been aggressively promoting the drug as a treatment for corona virus, despite there being no conclusive medical evidence to prove its efficacy.
Health ministry categorises hydroxychloroquine as schedule H1 drug
Amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), has declared hydroxychloroquine (HCQS) drug as a schedule H1 drug– which means it can’t be sold without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. What are Schedule H1 Drugs? As per health ministry, these drugs should be sold in India with some conditions:It includes, The Schedule H1 drug supply should be registered in a separate register, which records the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug & the quantity supplied and such records will be maintained for 3- years and is available for inspection. On the strip of hydroxychloroquine drugs it is marked ‘RX’ in red color and will be displayed on the left top corner of the label.
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