Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, on behalf of the Maldivian government, thanked the government of India for approving the request for a shipment of 'Hydroxychloroquine' (HCQ), the malaria drug widely touted as a "game-changer" in the fight to end the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you government of India, for approving Maldives’ request for Hydroxychloroquine, which is being called a game changer in the fight against #Covid19. A friend in need is truly a friend indeed! @narendramodi @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) April 10, 2020
Maldives is to receive 200,000 tablets of the pharmaceutical.
In addition to Maldives, India has authorized consignments of the drug for 13 countries, including the United States (US), Mauritius, Bahrain, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Seychelles, and the Dominican Republic.
As reported by the India Times, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Dammu Ravi, revealed that two additional shipments of HCQ would be exported to foreign nations.
India also stated that it's 'Neighbourhood first' policy will be considered in granting exemptions to its ban on internationally exporting HCQ and Paracetamol.
Hailed as a game-changing drug by the US President Donald Trump, the anti-viral is largely used by multiple nations around the world in their efforts to treat the coronavirus disease. However, President Trump's claims have been criticized by medical professionals and the media as "unrealistic".
The President's own medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci noted the use of the drug as an effective treatment against the pandemic would only be identified after clinical trials. While most Doctors report the need for months for accurate clinical testing, President Trump claims that results will be available in mere "days".
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