In a bid to fight the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, morethan 30 countries have requested India for hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarialdrug. During recent conversations, leaders across several nations havepersonally raised the request with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The requesthas come from several nations, including the US, the UK, Spain, Germany, Braziland this highlights India's importance in the global pharma sector.

According to government officials, while New Delhi islooking into the requests it will review the domestic requirements first.Domestically, India has allowed the use of hydroxychloroquine by medical andhealth care workers while dealing with COVID-19 patients. So far, India hasdecided to give hydroxychloroquine to about 25 countries.

PM Modi has spoken to 15 world leaders since the outbreak ofthe pandemic which includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French PresidentEmmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro,Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed BinZayed Al Nahyan, Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani, Prime Ministerof Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.One of the main aims of the conversations was to chalk out a global strategy todeal with the crisis.

PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu havespoken twice in the last few weeks. An official statement of April 3 said,"The leaders explored possible collaboration between India and Israel infighting the pandemic by improving availability of pharmaceuticalsupplies."

India has confirmed that it has received US request forhydroxychloroquine and is looking into the request. US President Donald Trumphad said he has requested India to release hydroxychloroquine it had ordered.

US President said, "I called PM Modi of India...theymake large amounts of hydroxychloroquine, very large amounts frankly. And Isaid, they had a hold, they have 1.5 billion people, and I said, I wouldappreciate it if they would release the amounts we have ordered and they aregiving it serious consideration. India makes a lot of it."

Trump has backed hydroxychloroquine as a solution to theCOVID-19 crisis calling it "game-changer", though it is not beingbacked completely by the medical community.

In an order issued on April 4, Directorate General ofForeign Trade announced the total prohibition of the export ofhydroxychloroquine and formulations made of hydroxychloroquine is "withoutexception". In an earlier order issued on March 25, the DGFT had announcedthe export of hydroxychloroquine except under three exceptions but was deletedin the new order.