India has lifted its near-total ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine — a anti-malarial drug touted as a potential coronavirus prevention and cure — after being threatened by US President, Donald Trump.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the drug prevent or cure the disease, and has described it as "one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine."
The Food and Drugs Administration has not established the drug as a safe or effective coronavirus cure, and top public health official have refused to endorse the substance as a cure.
India had implemented a partial ban on foreign exports of the drug since March 25, and a total ban since Saturday, to protect domestic stocks.
But Trump has been placing pressure on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider, and told a Monday briefing that he disagreed with the export ban, and threatened unspecified "retaliation" against the country if it didn't comply with his wishes.
"I spoke to him [Modi] Sunday morning, called him, and I said we'd appreciate your allowing our supply to come out," said Trump.
"If he doesn't allow it to come out, that would be OK, but of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn't there be?"
In a statement released early Tuesday, the Indian government made no reference to Trump's threat, but announced it was partially lifting the ban in "appropriate quantities" given the "humanitarian aspects of the pandemic,".
Anurag Srivastava, a spokesman for India’s foreign ministry, said: “It has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities.
“We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.”
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