Pakistan bans export of anti-malaria drugs

Islamabad, April 11

Pakistan has banned the export of anti-malaria drugs after several countries, including the US, started using the medicines to treat coronavirus patients, according to a media report.

The ban, which has been imposed with immediate effect, will remain till the National Coordination Comm­ittee (NCC) on COVID-19 deems necessary, according to a notification released by the Commerce Ministry amidst a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the country.

On Friday, Pakistan reported 190 fresh infections taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 4,788. The death toll from the virus has reached 71. As many as 762 have recovered while 50 were in critical condition.

This is the second time in this week that the Pakistan government has banned the export of anti-malaria medicines. The notification was released to the media on Friday. There are approximately 20 companies, which are manufacturing anti-malaria drugs.

To restrict use of anti-malaria drugs in the domestic market, the DRAP has already asked medical stores to sell the drugs on doctors’ prescriptions only. — PTI