Shortage of API: Bengal Chemicals can only supply only 10 lakh hydroxy-chloroquine

Kolkata: PSU pharma company Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BPCL) on Tuesday said it can provide only a maximum of 10 lakh hydroxy-chloroquine tablets due to the shortage of a key component, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of hydroxy-chloroquine for healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases and the asymptomatic household contacts of lab-confirmed cases as a preventive treatment measure.

Bengal Chemicals is possibly the only company from this part of the country having the capacity to produce hydroxy-chloroquine.

"Whatever raw material (API) we have that can be good for only 10 lakh malaria tablets (having hydroxy-chloroquine)," BPCL managing director PM Chandraiah told.

API is the term used to refer to the biologically active component of a drug product such as a tablet, capsule.

India imports 80 percent of API from China, from where the novel coronavirus originated, to meet its requirements.

"In India, only the private sector IPCA produces API and we had been told that we are in the queue and our turn will come in May-June," he said.

According to the data updated Tuesday morning, the total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 492, including 446 active cases.

Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

It is a Public Sector Undertaking in founded in 1901 by Prafulla Chandra Ray.

Today, BCPL is a Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Company with a diversified range of brands to support cleanliness, health, and hygiene in every sphere of our life. 

Recently the unique cleanliness brands of BCPL were recommended by Govt. of India for "SWACCH BHARAT MISSION" envisioned by our Honourable Prime Minister.

It manufactures anti-snake venom serum (ASVS), Hospitol, naphthalene balls, Phenyl etc.

Following over 6 decades of losses, BCPL posted a profit of ₹4 crores (US$560,000) in the fiscal year 2016-17.is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). 

Read also: Novartis to donate up to 130 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19