Health Ministry has issued a notification restricting the sale and distribution of "Hydroxychloroquine" declaring it as an essential drug to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to the pandemic COVID-19.

In a gazette notification, the Ministry has directed that sale by retail of any preparation containing the drug Hydroxychloroquine shall be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

The notification said that the Central Government is satisfied that the drug ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ is essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic COVID-19 .

In the public interest, it is necessary and expedient to regulate and restrict the sale and distribution of the drug ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ and preparation based thereon for preventing their misuse.

