‘Will Not Be Forgotten’: US President Trump Thanks PM Modi For Allowing Export Of Hydroxychloroquine

United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday (8 April) thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing the export of anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which is being experimentally used in many countries for treating Covid-19.

"Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" Trump said in a tweet.

Earlier on Tuesday (7 April), India had decided to licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to neighbouring countries who are dependent on Indian capabilities. India will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations which have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic, a ministry of external affairs statement said.

The US as of now has the highest number of the novel coronavirus cases in the world, with over 431,800 cases of infections and over 14,800 deaths.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has notified lifting restrictions on 14 drugs. Paracetamol and HCQ, have been kept in a licensed category and their demand status is to be continuously monitored. HCQ is being used to treat COVID-19 patients and as prophylactic by the frontline health care workers deployed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Modi government had imposed a ban on export of the drug since the coronavirus outbreak hit India.

(With inputs from IANS)