Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has officially received consignment of hydroxychloroquine tablets from Ambassador of India Partha Satpathi. Medicines were provided to Ukraine by the Government of India as humanitarian aid, in the course of joint efforts aimed at fighting COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony took place on Tuesday, May 5, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine will be in charge for management of further distribution of abovementioned remedies among Ukrainian medical authorities.

“This is a gesture of true friendship by the Indian people and the Government of India. This step will further strengthen the partnership between our countries and demonstrate that Ukraine and India are capable to confront global challenges together” - Dmytro Kuleba emphasized.

Ambassador Satpathy called India and Ukraine “two great democracies”. According to him, both states responded in a timely and efficient manner to coronavirus outbreak. H.E. Mr. Satpathy emphasized that this decision of the Government of India demonstrates the high level of the Indian-Ukrainian cooperation.

Both Parties especially noted that interaction between Ukraine and India in pharmaceutical sphere demonstrates high dynamics of growth.

On the same day, a shipment of typhoid, meningitis, cholera and malaria vaccines for the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent arrived in Kyiv as part of Indian humanitarian aid.

Lieutenant Colonel Serhii Morgun, Chief of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Department of the Command of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who attended the ceremony, expressed gratitude for the decision of the Indian Ministry of Defence for granting vaccines for Ukrainian soldiers.

Due to the efforts of the Ukrainian diplomacy, the Government of India has also granted permission for commercial purchase of bulk amount of hydroxychloroquine tablets as required by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

This decision of Indian authorities was preceded by intensive work of Ukrainian diplomats with the close assistance of the Embassy of India in Ukraine.

For reference: the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine medicines in treatment of COVID-19 patients is being scrutinised in many countries worldwide, particularly in the USA and the EU.

The Government of the Republic of India has imposed restrictions on sales and exports of hydroxychloroquine-based medicines. Individual permits can be granted for purchasing certain amounts or for presenting as humanitarian aid to friendly countries.

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India has donated vaccines to the Government of Ukraine aimed at ensuring health safety of Ukrainian national military peacekeeping personnel serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.