Covid-19: India Gifts 23 Tonnes of Essential Medicines to Nepal

Kathmandu: India on Wednesday sent 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic which has infected 45 people in the country.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the "generous support".

"I thank Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for India's generous support of 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal, to fight COVID-19 Pandemic. The medicines were handed over to the Minister for Health and Population today by the Ambassador of India," Oli said in a tweet.

As part of the ongoing bilateral cooperation to fight the coronavirus, India's ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the consignment to Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal, the Indian mission here said in a statement.

"The consignment, as a gift from the people of India to people of Nepal, includes 8.25 lakh doses of essential medicines, 3.2 lakh doses of Paracetamol and 2.5 lakh doses of Hydroxychloroquine," it said.

The initiative manifests the continuing cooperation between India and Nepal in all situations and circumstances, the statement said.

"Indian and Nepali health professionals are collaborating their efforts on ground to contain and stop this pandemic. India is committed to prepare, act and succeed together in partnership with Nepal and other South Asian partner countries in this hour of challenge," the Indian embassy added.

India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, after Oli thanked him for the supply of essential medicines.

Modi also said India-Nepal relationship is special.

"Our bonds are not only strong but also deep-rooted," Modi wrote on Twitter. "India stands in solidarity with people and the Government of Nepal to fight COVID-19 pandemic."

He was responding to a tweet by Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who thanked India for supplies of medicine to fight the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in Nepal has reached 45, a Health Ministry spokesperson said.

Three patients were discharged from hospital. So far, seven persons have been cured while 38 people undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

Last month, Prime Minister Modi held a video conference of SAARC leaders and offered all possible assistance to the neighbouring countries, pledging USD 10 million to SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund.