HCQ: India emerges first responder to Mauritius, Seychelles to contain Covid-19

New Delhi: India has yet again emerged as the first responder to disaster by supplying life-saving drugs to Mauritius and Seychelles as part of Indo-Pacific vision.

India on Wednesday gifted the first consignment of four tonnes of essential lifesaving medicines to Government of Seychelles, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, officials said. These medicines were procured basis the request from the Government of Seychelles. The consignment was sent to Seychelles by an Air India Special Charter flight from Delhi.

“This is a special arrangement made in view of the special relations with Seychelles in order to enable the supply of these medicines despite the restrictions in place due to the lockdown,” according to a MEA statement


As part of this consignment, India has swiftly decided to send the supplies of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to Seychelles. The anti-malarial drug is now used to treat Covid-19 patients with effective outcomes. Other medicines as part of the supplies include various life-saving medicines for COVID-19 complications which shall be a game changer for the treatment of the pandemic in Seychelles, according to MEA.

India had previously gifted lifesaving State-of-the-Art Medical Equipment worth $ 8.75 Million in February 2018 which is now distributed across all the Hospitals and Health Clinics.

India also provided Hydroxychloroquine (half a million tablets) to the Government of Mauritius, as per their request. Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius Leela Devi Luchoomun Dookun received the consignment that arrived in Mauritius through a special Air India cargo flight from Delhi. Mauritius is one of the first countries to receive supplies of this medicine after a special exemption was granted for a few countries. The consignment is part of the 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines that have been sent for Mauritius.