While the drug’s efficacy is not yet clinically proven, Mr. Trump has been a proponent of its use, calling it a “game changer”.

The Indian Council for Medical Research has also cleared HCQ to be used as a prophylaxis, or preventive medication, by doctors, nurses and other health staff.

Despite the requirement, the Centre said it had assessed that current stocks of HCQ and other drugs that had been freed for export were sufficient for “for all possible contingencies”.

The MEA also denied criticism that its decision to reverse its ban had been taken under pressure from the U.S. and other countries.

“Like any responsible government, our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicines for the requirement of our own people. In order to ensure this, some temporary steps were taken to restrict exports of a number of pharmaceutical products,” the spokesperson said.

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