Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an anti- malarial drug similar to chloroquine, one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs.
It is also used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Hydroxychloroquine is an interferon blocker, and works by diminishing the immune system’s response to a viral infection.

Interferons are a group of soluble glycoproteins that are produced and released from cells in response to virus infection.

This property of HCQ makes it useful in autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

A hyperactive response by the immune system is said to be primarily responsible for pneumonia, also a fallout of a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Since HCQ has the ability to diminish the immune system’s response to a viral infection it seems to be effective incase of COVID-19 patients.
The drug has shown to have shortened the time to clinical recovery of COVID-19 patients.
However, many of these are in small lab-controlled testing and no proper human trials have been conducted to determine its efficacy.
In India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for asymptomatic frontline workers, such as surveillance workers deployed in containment zones and paramilitary/police personnel involved in COVID-19-related activities,

The WHO has said that while there is no conclusive evidence yet of the efficacy of HCQ in Covid-19 treatment, the side-effects are well documented.
Many countries have limited it to clinical trials under supervision of clinicians in hospital settings.

India has lifted the nearly three-month old ban on export of Hydroxychloroquine and its formulations, with immediate effect.
A notification moving them from the ‘Prohibited’ to ‘Free’ for export policy has been issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The latest notification is an amendment to the one issued on March 25, prohibiting the export of HCQ and formulations, except under certain conditions.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade organisation is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
This Directorate is responsible for formulating and implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective of promoting India’s exports.

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