Health ministry places orders for 11.45 crore HCQ tablets with 2 Indian firms

Union Health Ministry has placed urgent orders for at least 11.45 crore tablets of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

This drug is being directly procured by HLL Lifecare.

Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) Lifecare is a government-owned healthcare manufacturing company.

HCQ is an anti-malarial drug and has only been recommended as prophylaxis of COVID-19 as per the national taskforce for COVID-19.

It is not a cure but this protocol has been recommended by the national task force for mostly frontline health care workers and has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for restricted use in an emergency.

(With inputs from ANI)