COVID-19: Centre gets cracking to procure ventilators, masks & coveralls

COVID-19: Centre gets cracking to procure ventilators, masks & coveralls

New Delhi: The government is placing orders with companies for supply of ventilators and Agva Healthcare and Bharat Electronics will supply 40,000 ventilators used for coronavirus patients.

A statement by the Health Ministry said domestic manufacturer AgVa Healthcare in Noida has been able to develop suitable ventilators and order of 10,000 ventilators has been placed.

Supplies are expected to commence by the second week of April. In addition, an order for 30,000 ventilators has been placed to Bharat Electronics Limited which is going to collaborate with domestic manufacturers in this endeavour. Indian auto manufacturers are also preparing to manufacture ventilators, the statement said.

Orders have also been placed with international companies like Hamilton, Mindray and Draeger to supply ventilators. Ministry of External Affairs is also approaching suppliers in China for sourcing 10,000 ventilators from them.

Ventilators are required for Covid-19 patients, as they tend to develop acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS). Less than 20 Covid-19 patients are on ventilator support at this moment. As against this, over 14,000 ventilators have been identified in various hospitals across the country for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

In order to meet the requirement of PPEs, masks and ventilators, factories producing essential items are working round the clock and ordinance factories are trying to produce personal protection equipment for medical personnel. While Bharat Electronics Limited is going to manufacture ventilators, all drug companies have assured the government that there will not be any shortage of drugs during this crisis and even auto manufacturers are working to develop and produce ventilators.

Two domestic manufacturers are supplying N95 masks to the tune of 50,000 masks per day at the moment, but are ramping up capacities to make 1 lakh masks per day within the next week. DRDO is also collaborating with local manufacturers to produce about 20,000 N99 masks per day. This supply is also expected to become available in a week’s time. (IANS)

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