[CA] Hydroxychloroquine

India announced restrictions on export of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drug. India had imposed ban on export of HCQ drug to prevent the shortage of the drug in the country. The United States and 30 other countries including some of the SAARC countries have been pressuring India to remove the ban.

The United States lately has been forcing India upon its ban as the shortages in US has been increasing greatly. The United States is a major importer of HCQ and other drugs. The other countries that are demanding India to remove the export ban include Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Australia, Israel and Gulf countries. India considering their requests has put on restrictions to the export ban, meaning the ban has not been removed completely.

The Hydroxychloroquine drug is one of the four mega methods considered for trials to contain the spread of COVID-19.The drug is used in the US as a preventive measure. The drug is recommended to asymptomatic patients that are in close contact with the COVID-19 patients.

[CA] Schedule H1 Drug

Amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 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. ICMR has suggested that hydroxychloroquine be used in high risk cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). Schedule H1 drug means it can’t be sold without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.

As per health ministry, these drugs should be sold in India with some conditions. It includes,

v 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.

v 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.