As part of ongoing cooperation between India and Nepal to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the southern neighbour has provided 23 tonnes of essential medicine to fight the disease.

The consignment includes 825,000 doses of essential medicines, including 320,000 doses of paracetamol and 250,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the drugs—a gift from the people of India—to Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal on Wednesday, the Indian embassy said in a statement.

.India has touted hydroxychloroquine as an effective drug against Covid-19.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli thanked Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for providing the medical facilities. “I thank Prime Minister Modiji for India's generous support of 23 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal, to fight COVID-19 Pandemic,” Oli wrote on Twitter.

Indian Prime Minister Modi last month held a video conference with SAARC leaders and offered all possible assistance to India’s neighbours, and pledged US$10 million to the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund.

Indian and Nepali health professionals have also been collaborating to contain and stop the pandemic, said the embassy.