Michael Barbaro
Pharmaceutical industry affected In fact, it is to successful private pharmaceutical companies such as Cipla, Sun Pharma and Dr. Reddy’s that the Indian authorities immediately turned to ensure the availability of certain products needed in the event of a major outbreak. The government has restricted exports of about 20 products including protective equipment and some medical ingredients, such as Lopinavir and Ritonavir. These antiretrovirals are currently being used together against HIV and are being touted by Indian doctors, like their Chinese counterparts, as useful to treat the symptoms of COVID-19. Despite assurances from large India pharmaceutical companies about the strength of their stockpiles, however, fears which prompted the government to restrict exports are not unfounded. Between 80-85% of the active ingredients used in drugs assembled in India come from China, 25% of which are from the Hubei region, the epicentre of the epidemic. To cope with the disruption of the...