India accounts for 70 percent of all HCQ manufacturing globally and is a leading exporter. The drug has become critical in fighting against COVID-19 with proven efficacy in reducing the viral load.
While the potential benefits of HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19 are yet to be proven through Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), Trump’s often found championing during press meet , a controversial French study and in India, the recommendation of the drug by the national task force for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases has led to a surge in demand.
“Hydroxy-chloroquine is found to be effective against coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. Its use in prophylaxis is derived from the available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by preclinical data,” the health ministry’s advisory said.
After USA president Trump threat India immediately lifted its ban and prepares to begin exporting HCQ again to some countries.
[splco_quote]But pharmacists and patients now complaint after lift of ban HCQ has almost disappeared from the market.[/splco_quote]
Apart from malaria, this drug is also prescribed to patients (mostly women) suffering from auto-immune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to the American College Of Rheumatology, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), is a “disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)”, meaning that it helps reduce the pain and swelling that come with arthritis. It may prevent joint damage and reduce the risk of long-term disability.
For lupus patients, there is a more serious threat as there is a possibility of relapse of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) if the doses are discontinued.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in many parts of the body.
“HCQ is used for prophylactic purposes and prevents the relapse of the disease in Lupus patients. It is an immunosuppressant.
[splco_quote]Relapsing of this disease can cause serious complications in such patients,” said Dr K.L. Gupta, former Professor and Head of the Nephrology Department, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.[/splco_quote]
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While state authorities insist there is no domestic shortage, multiple news reports have quoted panicked patients who are unable to access the drug that keeps their pain in control.
Like many other medicines, the ongoing national lockdown has disrupted the supply of HCQ as well.
It t reported due to shortage of Hydroxichloroquine in the country, the chemists have restricted the sale of this drug to single strip only with the prescription slip.
As some states insist on prescriptions and patients resort to panic-buying, worried doctors warn that it’s the chronic sufferers who may need the drug more than potential COVID-19 patients.
Doctors across cities affirmed India that they currently see no choice but to give priority to the patients who need the medicine the most.
In Chennai, many hospitals that still have HCQ tablets in their in-house pharmacies are selling them only to patients suffering from severe pain and swelling in joints.
“We are facing acute shortage of HCQ from the last few weeks and are left with no option but to prioritize our patients according to their health condition,” said Dr. Sham Santhanam, a city-based rheumatologist.
[splco_quote]Dr. Puja Srivastava, a rheumatologist based in Ahmedabad one of the manufacturing hubs of the drug said that her patients too are unable to find the medicine. “If the supply chain was disrupted in other parts of the country, HCQ should have been available here as the city is a major production hub for the drug. But my patients too are facing scarcity from the last few weeks,” she said.[/splco_quote]
Patients suffering from these diseases are usually put on long-term doses. The daily recommended doses of hydroxychloroquine sulphate for such patents range between 250 mg and 400 mg.
Despite being a crucial drug for malaria, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus patients, the drug is used sparingly in India because the latter two diseases affect less than 1% of the population.
According to Arthritis India, an independent research organization Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 0.92% of the adult population in India.
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Also, the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (API) reported that the prevalence of Lupus in India is 3 per 100,000 which is a much lower figure reported than western data(124 per 100,000 in the USA while 12.5 per 100,000 population in the UK).
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Earlier The Tribune has reported that India manufactures around 200 million HCQ tablets of 200 mg each every month and local consumption averages 2.40 crore tablets . However Industries Sources Confirmed only if Production rate increased to 6 times then 350 million tablets of 200 mg dose can be produced every month with its highest capacity would. The government of India has placed an order with the leading Indian Hydroxychloroquine manufacturers namely Zydus Cadila and Ipca Laboratories to increase capacity and the with that Indian country’s own demand is not likely to surpass 100 million tablets . In India, the cost of drug HCQ is less than Rs 3 per tablet
Lovely Dawar, president of the wholesale drug market in Pindi Galli, Ludhiana, and a wholesale dealer of HCQ said that until last month, he used to sell around five boxes of 300 tablets each per month but now the drug is out of stock.
“The major reason for the scarcity is panic buying by people in the last week. The majority of the customers have purchased up to 100 tablets for their self-treatment as well as for their families in case they get COVID-19. What would you expect if instead of 1% of people, 50% of the population purchases HCQ?” Dawar asked.
With the ongoing economic slump and dislocation of the migratory workers during the national lockdown, it’s likely that many pharma companies will face an uphill task to revive the production of HCQs at their units.
Meanwhile, medical professionals like Dr. Gupta are getting numerous calls from his patients asking for substitutes to HCQ, only to have to disappoint them.
“India has the potential to cater to the global needs of Hydroxychloroquine. But the fact of the matter is presently, these patients need HCQ more than COVID-19 patients.
To create a balance between the domestic and international demand, the government should take exemplary measures to boost the pharmaceutical sector in India,” said Dr. Gupta.
Many Indians adhering to national interest expressed views in microblog social sites stated Indian PM Modi should extend the ban with out bowing to USA President Trump pressure
