Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — The government of India is assuring the Philippines that it will have a steady supply of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which is used in the treatment of some COVID-19 patients.
In a 25-minute phone call on Tuesday night, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assured President Rodrigo Duterte of the supply of affordable medicine and COVID-19 pharmaceutical products, according to Malacañang.
Malacañang said Modi also told Duterte that the Philippines will “definitely benefit” from the COVID-19 vaccine that India is developing.
Hydroxychloroquine is among the drugs in the World Health Organization-led solidarity trial against COVID-19. Use of the drug in the trial was briefly halted over safety concerns, following a study which suggested a higher mortality rate among patients treated with it.
The Philippines has resumed using hydroxychloroquine in the solidarity trial after the WHO concluded that “there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol.”
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India is one of the top producers of hydroxychloroquine in the world and is exporting the drug to a number of countries.
CNN Philippines’ Triciah Terada contributed to this report.
