Bengal Chemical out of the fray even with Hydroxychloroquine being need of the hour

SOUMITRA NANDI | MP | 9 April 2020 |Kolkata: At a time when a number of countries across the globe are battling the deadly COVID-19 virus and are looking at India's Hydroxychloroquine as a game-changer drug, the country's only public sector undertaking Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL) that makes an allied anti-malarial drug — chloroquine phosphate — has been kept out of the fray.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also stressed upon the need of production of Hydroxychloroquine in Bengal. The state government is taking initiative to reopen closed drug manufacturing units in North Bengal as both basic material cinchona and skilled labourers are available there.

During a meeting on Thursday, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha stated about the provision of providing raw material to Bengal Chemical for production of Hydroxychloroquine. The Chief Secretary also confirmed that there is sufficient stock of the same in the state.

The central PSU is capable of manufacturing Hydroxychloroquine, if the government places order with it at a time when India has accepted orders for the drug from three countries, namely America, Spain and Australia.

"We are manufacturing chloroquine phosphate from the raw materials that we have. We have the necessary infrastructure. If asked, we can manufacture Hydroxychloroquine. It is only a different formulation," said PM Chandraiah, managing director of BCPL.

Chandraiah said that they will apply for licence to manufacture Hydroxycholoquine in two or three days and is hopeful of getting it soon.

"The major impediment before us is the procurement of raw materials that presently is available with a few pharmaceutical companies in the country. It is also very difficult for us to bear the procurement cost. So if the government (state or Central) arranges for the supply of raw materials, we can formulate and manufacture. We will charge nothing for the facility and manufacturing cost and will also supply for free as we feel that it is also our responsibility to contribute in this time of crisis," he added.

BCPL has a stock of 10 lakh chloroquine phosphate tablets that are supplied on a regular basis to central government hospitals and Army hospitals. ESI Hospital in Maniktala procures chloroquine phosphate from BCPL.

Founded by legendary chemist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy in 1901, the PSU has two units in Bengal, namely one at Maniktala and another at Panihati, while the other two located outside Bengal are at Kanpur and Dadar.

Some studies have suggested that a combination of Hydroxychlroquine and Azithromycin can bring down the viral load in COVID-19 patients. BCPL manufactures the antibiotic Azithromycin to the tune of 4 crore tablets annually.

"It is the faulty policy of the Central government when it comes to not placing orders with BPCL. Even when we have posted profit, the Centre is going for disinvestment. We are fighting a legal battle at the Calcutta High Court for the last few years," said Subhash Chandra Bose, working president, Bengal Chemical Employees Union.