Gujarat govt issues advisory after people hoard hydroxychloroquine

People in
Gujarat have been consuming and stocking up on hydroxychloroquine, a drug
touted as a ‘game changer’ in the fight against coronavirus, prompting the
state government to issue a warning against its health hazards and a directive
to chemists not to sell it over the counter.

India is the
world’s largest manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine, which is used in the
treatment of malaria.

But, its
demand has now increased after US President Donald Trump requested the Indian
government to allow its export to America to treat COVID-19 patients.

“We
have come to know that people were rushing to medical stores to buy
hydroxychloroquine after it came in news and was also mentioned as an effective
medicine by US President Trump for those infected by COVID-19,” Gujarat
Food and Drug Control Authority Commissioner H.G. Koshia told sources.

This type of
self-medication can cause harm and side effects if not taken under proper care
of doctors, he warned.

Chemists
have been asked to maintain a register of purchase and sale of the drug, which
they have to do for all the scheduled H drugs, he said.

A chemist in
Bopal area of Ahmedabad said many people come to his store asking for
hydroxychloroquine in a day, but he sells it only to those who have proper
prescription.

Koshia said
the Gujarat government has enough stock of the medicine, but an advisory has
been issued, so that there is no shortage of the drug in the open market.

The Gujarat
government stockpiled over 1 crore shots of the medicine as it became clear
that this can be a useful medicine against coronavirus, he said, adding that
the drug is manufactured in a large quantity in the state.

Gujarat
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani recently said three companies from the state have
been asked to produce hydroxychloroquine to export it to the US, after
President Trump asked the Indian government for its supply.

On the
effectiveness of the drug in the fight against coronavirus, Koshia said some
studies, especially in France, say that it works.

“The
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended that this drug should
be given to frontline health workers who are involved in treating those
suffering from COVID-19,” he said.

Earlier,
India had banned the drug’s export after it was found that it can be key to the
treatment of COVID-19.

However,
after requests of US President Trump and from other countries, the export curbs
were partially lifted.

Gujarat has
so far reported over 570 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths.