Ordinance factories to make PPEs, BEL to manufacture ventilators as govt ramps up efforts to fulfil demand
The government on Monday said ordinance factories are trying to produce personal protection equipment for medical personnel while Bharat Electronics Limited is going to manufacture ventilators so there is no shortage of these equipment amid ongoing coronavirus crisis.
In order to meet the requirement of PPEs, masks and ventilators, factories producing essential items are working round the clock, the government said.
Personal protection equipment (PPE) kits are used by medical personnel working in isolation areas and intensive care units to protect them from acquiring infections.
With the prospect of the huge requirement of PPEs arising in the near future, the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are leading the efforts to promote their manufacturing in the country, the government said in a press release.
They were not being manufactured in the country and domestic manufacturers came forward for the purpose. So far, 11 domestic manufacturers have cleared quality tests.
Orders for 21 lakh PPE coveralls have been placed on them. Currently, they are supplying 6-7,000 coveralls per day and this is expected to go up to 15,000 per day within the next week. One more manufacturer has qualified today and an order of 5 lakh coveralls has been placed with him.
Medical personnel are also being trained and are fully prepared for any emergencies, the government said.
As of now, 3.34 lakh PPEs are available in various hospitals across the country. About 60,000 PPE kits have already been procured and supplied by the government. Indian Red cross society has arranged 10,000 PPEs from China which have also been received and are being distributed. Another 3 lakh donated PPE coveralls are to arrive by April 4. An order for 3 lakh PPEs has been placed with ordinance factories.
Foreign sources of PPE kits are being approached through the Ministry of External Affairs as they are also faced with a huge increase in the worldwide demand.
A Singapore based online platform has been identified which can supply 10 lakh PPE kits and an order has been placed through the MEA to procure them. Another supplier based in Korea, which has tie-ups with production companies in Vietnam and Turkey has been identified with a daily production capacity of over 1 lakh PPE kits. Orders are being placed on this company through MEA for supplying 20 lakh PPE kits, the government said.
N95 masks are being manufactured by two domestic producers. They are able to supply 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.
Hospitals in the country have 11.95 lakh N95 masks in stock as of now. Additional 5 lakh masks were distributed in the past two days and 1.40 lakh masks are being distributed today, the Ministry of Health said.
10 lakh masks would be part of the PPE kits being sourced from Singapore.
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.
A domestic manufacturers Agva Healthcare in Noida has been able to develop suitable ventilators and order of 10,000 ventilators has been placed with him. Supplies are expected to commence by the 2nd week of April. In addition, an order for 30,000 ventilators has been placed on Bharat Electronics Limited which is going to collaborate with domestic manufacturers in this endeavour. Indian Auto manufacturers are also preparing to manufacture ventilators.
Orders have been placed on 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.