Himachal Pradesh Braces For Surge In Demand For Hydroxychloroquine, Ramps Up Production

To cater to the sudden surge in the demand for the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, production is being ramped up in Himachal Pradesh. According to reports, the State Drug Controller Navneet Marwaha said that Himachal Pradesh has ample capacity to produce this drug.

Noida: Volunteers wearing protective suits sprays disinfectant outside a housing society, to curb the spread of coronavirus, during the nationwide lockdown, in Noida, Friday, April 10, 2020. (PTI Photo)(PTI10-04-2020_000200B)

New Delhi: To cater to the sudden surge in the demand for the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, production is being ramped up in Himachal Pradesh. According to reports, the State Drug Controller Navneet Marwaha said that Himachal Pradesh has ample capacity to produce this drug. "There are 50 drug manufacturers in Himachal Pradesh who are holding product licenses to manufacture hydroxychloroquine tablets. Most of the manufacturers are of small or medium-scale but some have a state-of-the-art facility in Himachal Pradesh and are in a position to cater to the demands," said Marwaha on Friday. Hydroxychloroquine is a less toxic version of chloroquine which is commonly used to treat malaria. The drug is also used by lupus and arthritis patients. The effect of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 is still being studied and there is no conclusive evidence so far that suggests it is effective against the virus. The Food and Drug Administration of America recently authorized the emergency use of the hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 and the Trump administration pushed for imports of the drug from India. Considering the pandemic Indian government relaxed import rules for the drug and according to an official release decided to ‘supply the essential drugs to nations which have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic’. India has cleared the first list of 13 countries for hydroxychloroquine which includes the USA, Spain, Germany, Bahrain, Brazil, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh. "Presently, there are 10-12 manufacturers who are manufacturing this drug. But all those who have product license can start their production depending upon orders and demands," said Marwaha. According to an IANS report, on Thursday Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had also assured that state-based pharmaceutical majors were manufacturing hydroxychloroquine to meet worldwide demand in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. He had said that about 250 pharma units in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh areas of the hill state had resumed production, with many manufacturing the said medicine. The Himachal Pradesh Drug Manufacturing Association is seeking more support from the government and is demanding relaxation in certain norms to those pharmaceutical units which fulfill norms to produce this life-saving drug.