Analysis

Demand for Indian drugs surges as China battles deadly Covid wave: Report

China’s demand for Indian anti Covid generic drugs including Paxlovid– Pfizer’s oral drug is increasing amid a surge in Covid cases. This is despite the fact that Beijing does not approve of the sale of Indian generic drugs. More than 50,000 boxes of Indian generic drugs have been sold in less than a month since Beijing abruptly withdrew its zero Covid policy, an Observer Research Foundation report highlighted.

Even as Chinese doctors have warned citizens not to take Indian drugs, the local media there have said that since April this year, the Indian generic version has become hugely popular among customers in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, the report said.

The ORF also noted that Chinese reports have highlighted that “anti-COVID Indian generic drugs sold at RMB 1000 box” and these appeared on Weibo’s hot search list in the last few days.

Paxlovid, which helps in reducing the severe disease rate and death rate by 82.5 per cent, particularly in the elderly population, is in short supply in the Chinese market, the ORF report said. “At present, Pfizer’s Paxlovid is only sold in certain hospitals in China, and the supply is highly insufficient,” the ORF said.

China has not provided any data to the World Health Organisation on the new hospitalisation cases since the resurgence of the virus.

The BF 7 variant which has led to a surge in infection cases in China has been prevalent in several countries including India for many months. Experts said that the surge in cases in China may have been due to the vaccine coverage—many elders in the country have also not been vaccinated. Efficacy of the homegrown vaccines has also come into question.

Also read: China’s growth projections sink further amid Covid surge

What you must know about BF.7 variant driving China’s Covid wave that has put India on alert

IN Bureau

Share
Published by
IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Women’s freedom movement gives call to end detention of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

The Women's Freedom Movement has called for an end to the detention of Afghan refugees…

1 hour ago

MoS Pabitra Margherita calls on President of Fiji Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu

Union Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita called on the President…

2 hours ago

‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ echoes at Adampur Air Base as PM Modi salutes courage of Air Warriors

Chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Matram echoed at the Adampur Air base…

3 hours ago

Three LeT terrorists killed in South Kashmir’s Shopian, search operation still on

Three terrorists affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in the Shukroo forest area of…

3 hours ago

PM Modi visits Adampur Airbase, interacts with Air warriors, salutes their courage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar and interacted…

4 hours ago

Rajnath Singh holds high-level meeting with Defence Secretary, CDS, Navy and Army Chiefs

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with the Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence…

4 hours ago