India exported 23 lakh PPE to 5 countries in July: Health ministry
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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India exported 23 lakh personal protection equipment to five countries including the US, the UK and the UAE in July, after the government relaxed export norms and this has substantially helped the country to position itself in the global market of these kits, the Union Health Ministry said.
India exported 23 lakh personal protection equipment to five countries including the US, the UK and the UAE in July, after the government relaxed export norms and this has substantially helped the country to position itself in the global market of these kits, the Union Health Ministry said.
The other two countries are Senegal and Slovania, it said.
According to the ministry, the ‘Make in India’ spirit “embedded in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan has resulted in providing resilience and self-sufficiency” to the country for various medical equipment including PPE.
While the Union government is supplying PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators etc., to the state governments and union territories administrations, states are also procuring these items directly.
“Between March and August 2020, they have procured 1.40 crore indigenous PPE from their own budgetary resources. During the same period, the Centre has distributed 1.28 crore PPE to states, UTs and central institutions, free of cost,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Centre has been leading the graded, pre-emptive, proactive and collaborative response and management of COVID-19, along with the states union territories.
As part of its continued efforts towards progressively augmenting and strengthening the medical infrastructure across the country, various policy decisions have been taken on a regular basis.
At the start of the pandemic, there was a global shortage of all kinds of medical equipment including N95 masks, PPE kits, ventilators etc, the ministry underlined.
Most of the products were not being manufactured in the country in the beginning as many of the necessary components were to be procured from other countries. The rising global demand due to the pandemic resulted in their scarce availability in the foreign markets, it stated.
Turning the pandemic into an opportunity to develop its domestic market for production of medical equipment, with the combined efforts of ministries of health, textiles, pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Defence Research and Development Organisation and others, India has hugely ramped up its own manufacturing capacity, the ministry said.
“In view of the strengthened domestic production capacity and having met the domestic requirements for PPE, the revised notification of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in July permitted export of these kits.
“As a result of this relaxation, in the month of July itself, India exported 23 lakh PPE to five countries. These include the USA, the UK, the UAE, Senegal and Slovania. This has substantially aided India to position itself in the global export market of PPE,” the statement said.
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Over 3 Cr N95 masks, 1.28 Cr PPEs, 10 Cr HCQ tablets given to states, UTs by Centre for free
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The central role of the government has been in strengthening the health infrastructure of the states and Union territories to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure its effective management, the ministry underlined.
The government has distributed more than 3.04 crore N95 masks and over 1.28 crore personal protection equipment (PPE) kits among the states, Union territories and central institutions for free since March 11, the health ministry said on Thursday.
Also, more than 10.83 crore hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets have been distributed among them, it added. In addition, 22,533 “Make in India” ventilators have been delivered to various states, Union territories and central institutions, the ministry said, adding that the Centre is also ensuring the installation and commissioning of the machines.
The central role of the government has been in strengthening the health infrastructure of the states and Union territories to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure its effective management, the ministry underlined.
Along with augmenting the COVID-19 facilities, the Centre is also providing medical supplies to the states and Union territories for free.
“Most of the products supplied by the Government of India were not being manufactured in the country in the beginning. The rising global demand due to the pandemic resulted in their scarce availability in the foreign markets,” the ministry said.
With the combined efforts of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and others, the domestic industry has been encouraged and facilitated to manufacture and supply essential medical equipment such as PPEs, N95 masks, ventilators etc., it added.
“As a result, resolve for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ has been strengthened and most of the supplies made by the Union Government are domestically manufactured,” the health ministry underscored.
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Govt allows export of COVID-19 PPE medical coveralls; monthly quota fixed at 50 lakh units
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The product was banned for export earlier, but it has now been moved to the restricted category.
Partially relaxing export norms, the government on Monday permitted shipments of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) medical coveralls for COVID-19 with a monthly export quota of 50 lakh units.
The product was banned for export earlier, but it has now been moved to the restricted category.
In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said: “A monthly quota of 50 lakh PPE medical coverall for COVID-19 units has been fixed for issuance of export licence to the eligible applicants to export PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 as per the criteria to be separately issued in a trade notice”.
All other items that are part of PPE kits continue to remain prohibited, it said.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted: Boosting Make in India exports, PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 have been allowed with a monthly export quota of 50 lakh.
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Govt to soon allow exports of PPE kits, face masks as supply now twice local demand
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The government may soon permit export of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, face masks, and ventilators, given excess domestic capacity and manufacturers getting export order requests. “Right now there are many PPE and mask manufacturers in the country; the units are working at full capacity and the supply is almost double the demand,” a senior …
The government may soon permit export of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, face masks, and ventilators, given excess domestic capacity and manufacturers getting export order requests.
“Right now there are many PPE and mask manufacturers in the country; the units are working at full capacity and the supply is almost double the demand,” a senior government official, who did not want to be named told CNBC-TV18.
“Many manufacturers are getting requests for exports,” he said.
The Empowered Group 3, under the COVID-19 outbreak management headed by pharmaceutical secretary PD Vaghela has received requests from manufacturers that they be allowed to export surplus production.
PPE and mask manufacturers are getting export order requests from US, UK, Nigeria, Germany, Spain, Russia, and Uganda.
To begin with, export prohibition on PPE and masks will be lifted, and later, the restrictions on export of ventilators too will be eased, sources said.
“Empowered Group 3 is in discussions with the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) to allow exports,” the government official said.
The government has noted that there is an excess capacity of PPE kits and masks in the country. India is manufacturing around 6 lakh units of PPE and around 1.5 crore masks daily.
“India under the atmanirbhar bharat abhiyan wants to become a global manufacturer of PPE and masks. We are getting requests from various countries. We shall soon start honoring them,” the official added.
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India to continue using HCQ as prophylaxis for COVID: ICMR
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The clinical trial of the HCQ on COVID-19 patients was suspended by the World Health Organisation on Monday.
The Indian Council of Medical Research on Tuesday said it will continue using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) medicine as prophylaxis for COVID-19 disease.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General (DG) of the ICMR, told the media that the Council found the drug very effective and having less side effects for prophylaxis consumption.
Talking about the issue and latest guidelines about HCQ in which its usage was widened, Dr Bhargava said, “COVID-19 is an evolving field. We don’t know which medicines are working and which are not. There are lots of drugs that have been repurposed for use in COVID whether prophylaxis or as treatment. HCQ is a very old anti-malarial drug that was being widely used and it continues to be widely used. It is safer.”
Bhargava said the biological plausibility of HCQ was also supporting that it is possibly an antiviral drug. “We did some invitro study in labs and found that it has antiviral properties. This drug became suddenly popular when the American government also started using it and they got-fast track approval or emergency use authorisation. We also thought that it may be a useful drug for prevention of COVID.”
The DG said taking the biological plausibility, in vitro data and safety level of the drug, the ICMR had recommended it for empiric use under strict medical supervision about one-and-a-half months ago. “We also conducted a study on it. During these 6 weeks, we got data of observational studies — case control studies and observational studies — in different cohorts in India.”
The studies were done at AIIMS, ICMR, and also in three public hospitals in Delhi. Bhargave, however, said that randomized trial of the drug was not possible. “Looking at the data of these studies, we found that it may be working and without major side effects except nausea, vomiting and palpitations occasionally as per the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission results of all people taking HCQ are being monitored,” said Bhargava.
“It should be continued when there is no harm and some benefit may be there. We have clearly advised that it should be taken with food and not empty stomach. We also advised that we need to do one ECG during its use as prophylaxis.
“Looking at the risk benefits, we have found that our frontline workers should be given it, but they must use PPE. Very soon a study will be published on this,” said Bhargava.
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8 mln personal protective kits, 1000 ventilators coming from China, says Indian Envoy
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The Indian government is ramping up testing across the country and the Indian Embassy in China is playing a critical role in that. India on Thursday received 6.5 lakh testing kits from Chinese suppliers and now, an even larger consignment is on its way. Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18, Indian Envoy to China, Vikram Misri said …
Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18, Indian Envoy to China, Vikram Misri said that India is set to receive 2 million more testing kits from China in the next 8-10 days. He said, “We have facilitated contracts for 7-8 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and 1000 ventilators. Shipping of more medical equipment from China will begin this week. The Indian embassy is negotiating contracts for another 8-10 million PPE kits”.
The government has set up an empowered committee for procurement of critical medical equipment. The committee is in touch with several Indian mission for identification of suppliers, negotiation of contracts and early delivery of equipment. India is sourcing equipment not just from China but from South Korea, US, UK, Canada, Germany and Japan as well.
Recent reports have raised doubts about the quality of medical equipment coming from China. According to a BBC report, several European countries and Turkey have rejected Chinese medical equipment as it was either below standards or defective.
Misri said that while there may be issues with goods being imported by private entities, the Indian government has put in place several quality checks. “The government has ensured quality due to a number of filters. India is insisting on inspection of equipment by independent companies like Bureau Veritas. We are doing thorough checks of companies before recommending them to the government”, he said.
He said that Chinese authorities themselves were concerned about quality of products being exported. “China has now prescribed a national list of manufacturers allowed to export. They have now added another quality check by putting goods through customs inspection at the point of export”, he said.
Misri said that Indian supply chains from China are normalising, with China having managed to supress this phase of the pandemic. The envoy said that India-China trade negotiation mechanisms have not been operational due to the pandemic. “India will be taking up trade issues in the coming months. We will resume negotiations on RCEP with China once the crisis is behind us”, he said.
The diplomat said that India and China have not yet started collaborating on vaccine development, though that is a possible area of cooperation.
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Coronavirus: Over 90 tonnes air cargo of medical kits, medicines sent to north-east
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Over 90 tonnes of air cargo, comprising medical kits, personal protective gears and medicines, have been transported to north-eastern states from Delhi and other places, according to officials on Tuesday.
Over 90 tonnes of air cargo, comprising medical kits, personal protective gears and medicines, have been transported to north-eastern states from Delhi and other places, according to officials on Tuesday.
Airport Authority of India (AAI) Regional Executive Director Sanjeev Jindal said, “The lifeline UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) portal was launched with cargo flights and routes sketched for domestic transportation of essential and emergency goods, especially medical ones, to the farthest places in the country. Some cargo hubs were created and ports identified for ferrying these goods.”
The northeast has received special attention for cargo flights, comprising dedicated freighters and helicopters. Many sorties have been conducted to supply medical goods to the region.
Jindal said while commercial flights ceased from March 24 midnight after announcement of the lockdown, 12 airports in the northeast were opened with minimum staff to run the emergency and essential services.
On the resumption of commercial flights from April 15, the AAI official said the decision was yet to be taken by the government but airports in the northeast were ready to provide all the services.
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COVID-19 Frontline: Unprotected medical warriors fight uneven battle against virus to save patients
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Around 50 doctors across the country have tested positive for coronavirus.
With the number of COVID-19 cases in the country steadily rising, there are serious concerns about the health of doctors and healthcare workers who are at the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic. Working round the clock, a vast majority of them without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), these doctors, nurses and caregivers are fighting an uneven battle against the deadly virus which has already claimed close to 60,000 lives globally.
This is a problem common in almost all countries fighting the pandemic. But it is all more worse for a country like India, which has just one doctor for every 1,445 people .
By the government’s own admission, around 50 doctors across the country have tested positive to the deadly coronavirus .
Two doctors and two nurses in Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending to a 70-year old patient with cardiac complications. The patient did not show symptoms of coronavirus and was admitted in the cardiac care unit.
The doctors attending the patient were using basic surgical masks and gloves while performing procedures. Wockhardt staff CNBC-TV18 spoke to said that their demands for N95 masks or personal protection equipment for all departments made earlier were rejected by the hospital as limited supplies were reserved for the hospital’s nine-bed COVID-19 isolation ward.
The 70-year old patient eventually tested positive for COVID-19 and died on April 1.
The Mumbai Central facility of Wockhardt has since been declared a containment zone as unprotected medical staff could have transmitted the virus to other people and patients. All admitted patients and healthcare staff have now quarantined and are undergoing tests to confirm if they have contracted the infection.
The spouse of one of the doctors who tested positive at Wockhardt has also contracted the virus.
A doctor in the Physiology Department at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) tested positive too. Two other doctors from Delhi’s Mohalla Clinic and others in government hospitals, have found to be COVID-19 positive.
A nurse at Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital who was tending to a patient battling bladder cancer has tested positive too.
These are some of the many instances where doctors or caregivers not directly tending to confirmed COVID-19 patients have been infected. Moreover, the unavailability of PPE kits and most importantly N95 masks have put the entire medical fraternity including doctors, nurses and other staff in danger.
That’s not all, the scarcity of PPE across major states and government and private hospitals is creating further problems for health workers. While the Ministry of Health in a press briefing reiterated that steps have been taken to ensure there is ample supply of PPE for states and hospitals, local authorities have said that the supplies are scarce and have arrived late.
The Delhi Health Minister told CNBC-TV18 that the state has just 4,000 PPE kits and state-level orders were pending. Delhi has further sought around 50,000 PPE kits.
Niharika Barik Singh, Secretary Health and Family Welfare in Chhattisgarh said that the state has less than 5000 PPEs. “We have just been supplied 1,000 PPEs by the central government. We need at least 10,000 right away. Even to expand our scale of testing, our lab technicians need PPEs.”
IAS officers across the country have raised red flags on the non-availability of protective clothing and testing kits. Most districts have reported a shortage of testing kits and PPEs. Only 28.5 percent of the 266 IAS officers said that there were enough PPEs in stock in their respective districts.
As on April 3 (8 pm), India had 2,301 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while 56 people had died due to the virus.
PPEs, N95 masks needed for all hospital staff – not just COVID-19 centres
Although in short supply, PPE kits are being reserved for staff at COVID-19 facilities. In most hospitals, including AIIMS-Delhi that has its own procurement budget, other departments are not being provided protective gear.
A specialist at AIIMS’ Neuro Critical Care Department said, “We are being provided locally-made two layered masks. Even surgical masks are not available.” A neuro critical care specialist said, some in our department are wearing locally stitched cloth masks.
“I have been wearing an old mask, which has been washed a few times. I don’t know what protection it will provide, I add one more layer of covering and use it. But we are still reporting to work,” he added.
Another doctor in AIIMS said that nurses and paramedics in other departments have been given cloth masks and most of the staff are scared to interact with patients.
A junior doctor in a government hospital in Patna said that almost 90 percent of the patients are just carriers of the virus, are asymptomatic. Till they are tested we won’t know. “We are being exposed to them. We are wearing two-three layers of surgical or 3-ply masks while screening patients, but those collecting samples are the most scared.”
Both private laboratories and government centers have elaborated in difficulties to expand testing and swab sample collection due to lack of PPEs.
Availability of protective gear in mid-tier towns and cities is a major problem. Doctors on rotational shifts at the OPD of Jamshedpur’s Civil Hospital were initially provided with cotton masks. The regular OPD was closed and a few doctors were posted at the cough and cold clinic to screen suspected patients.
A doctor here said that most of us had bought their own three-ply masks/SSP masks which they use along with surgical masks as the only protection tool. The hospital had tested around 149 suspects, however, most have tested negative and a few reports are awaited.
Civil surgeon Dr Maheshwar Prasad reiterated his difficulty in allocating limited supplies of N95 masks and PPE kits, “I don’t have much PPE kits, and can’t utilise them on regular days. I have to save it for isolation wards and swab collections. We are hopeful in a day or two we will be receiving a supply of 100 PPEs and a batch of N-95 masks.”
Poor quality PPE at coronaviurs centres
Availability of PPE is a critical issue, so is quality. The government through its HLL unit has started distributing some PPE kits and masks to facilities, but doctors at centres are questioning the quality of the supplies.
A video from a doctor at Lok Nayak Hospital went viral on Twitter a few days back. His video showed “low quality PPEs” that were so porous that water could easily pass through it.
A critical care specialist at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna, who did not wish to be identified, told CNBC-TV18 that until now the team was working with HIV kits. It was only three days back that 10 PPE kits were supplied for the ICU. However, the quality of those PPE kits was not satisfactory.
The masks supplied as part of the PPE kit are not N95, but three layered surgical masks. Doctors are wearing two surgical gloves to reduce the chances of infection. The rear of gowns or coveralls’ are open and they do not have proper hoods. The head caps do not cover the forehead and neck properly. Doctors have to wear personal scarfs to cover their heads. Shoe covers also do not solve their purpose.
PPEs provided at NMCH, Patna.
Some healthcare workers were asked to wash and reuse their scarfs made of semi-synthetic material.
NMCH has been declared a COVID-19 hospital in Patna and currently has six positive patients and 11 suspected patients. One of the doctors at the hospital said, “What we have been given is for limited protection. We need PPEs for highest protection, especially for those who work in ICU who perform procedures on critical patients.”
Multiple doctors in Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi that CNBC-TV18 spoke to reiterated the issue about poor quality PPEs.
PPE kit at NMCH, Patna.
A specialist at AIIMS-Patna said that the hospital has PPE kits to last the next 10 days. The actual lot is from a year-old procurement that the hospital had ordered as part of a regular tender. “A few PPE kits have been received from HLL now, they seem to be of reasonable quality.”
AIIMS-Delhi centre has received Hazmat suits, the most advanced protective gear, and reportedly the COVID-19 center now has adequate supply. The quality of a few parts have issues, like fogging in glasses which some doctors have complained of.
Dr SP Kalantri, Director and Medical Superintendent of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha said that there is very little awareness about use of PPEs among healthcare staff. Hence, there is confusion about the quality.
Kalantri said that apart from the supply shortage, there are reports of poor-quality PPEs in the market. The state administration has asked us not to purchase PPEs from unregulated markets and wait for government procured supplies. But it is taking time. “Civil surgeons and collectors will procure and deliver. Government supplies haven’t come to us as yet,” he said
The hospital procured a set of 1,500 PPE from a private party donation to the hospital, which has set up a 100 bed facility for coronavirus patients. The supplies from the district administration are yet to come, said Dr Kalantri. “Our stock will last us for another three weeks,” he added.
Government orders
The central government was caught off-guard on medical protective gear as until March 18, India was exporting raw material.
It was only on March 24, a day before the country went into complete lockdown, that state-owned HLL Lifecare, the nodal agency for procurement of PPE kits, floated a global tender. However, bypassing the tender the government on March 30 ordered 21 lakh coveralls from 11 domestic manufacturers.
Orders for 10 lakh PPE kits from a Singapore-based platform and 20 lakh coveralls from a South Korean firm have also been confirmed. Two domestic companies making 50,000 N95 masks a day have also been roped in, with an assurance of expanding production to 1 lakh in a week’s time.
It estimated that India will need 4 million N-95 masks and 1 million coveralls and goggles, among other protective items like nitrile gloves and face shields.
The government is hoping to start supplies from these companies by April 10. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has also got involved in developing bio-suits to protect medical teams from the virus. It is working on expanding its daily production capacity of suits from 7000 to 15000. Many private textile companies are now working on producing PPE coveralls and head caps. DRDO is also working to make N99 masks.
Dr Kalantri said since PPE kits are expensive, hospitals will not be able to afford it from their own budgets; it is the government that will have to provide. “But with HLL being the sole procurer and supplier, there is a good degree of confusion even within HLL. Districts and states liaising with the sole supplier and procuring for hospitals are stuck in a back and forth.”
Dwindling morale
Wockhardt’s entire Mumbai Central facility has been closed for new admissions and all OPDs including dialysis for next 14 days, reducing this healthcare capacity from the system.
Add to that, incidents of attacks on doctors and laboratory professionals.
In some districts, government hospital doctors and nurses refusing to work without PPEs are being given notices for disciplinary action. Most private sector doctors are not operating their clinics.
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been in the Supreme Court seeking directions to avail WHO-approved protection kits for doctors. The centre’s response is awaited.
Almost all doctors and nurses CNBC-TV18 spoke to say they are apprehensive. Many have taken to social media to display their concerns and anger of having to work wearing plastic sheets or helmets as protection against the virus.
The NMCH, Patna doctor quoted earlier said healthcare staff working without proper protective gear are so scared that unfortunately incoming patients are treated as untouchables. Doctors still get some protective gear, nurses, ward boys and support staff are worse off. “Healthcare staff are themselves not feeling secure and protected. What treatment can they provide?”
But most doctors are still performing their duties, working with or without PPEs, in OPDs, cough clinics, isolation wards or ICUs. Assurances from the Central, State and District administration is coming, but not the PPEs.
AIIMS neuro specialist said we are performing our work, but we return to our families and children with guilt. “We understand there are no protocols in a pandemic, and we are working also, but we fear for our families. What if we unknowingly pass on the infection to them?”
A few state governments have made arrangements for stay of doctors in direct COVID care, but not all have been able to arrange a similar facility.
Lastly, Dr Kalantri pointed out that in a pandemic the government has to rise up and boost the confidence to their most crucial staff – healthcare workers – so that their morale is high, which is visibly shaken as of now.
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COVID-19 Outbreak: Indian govt ramps up efforts to augment supplies of protective gear & healthcare equipment
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The government is working on scaling up imports of various essential items like masks, coveralls and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Indian government has ramped up its efforts to augment supplies of protective-gear and healthcare equipment needed to prevent and treat cases of COVID-19.
The government is also working on scaling up imports of various essential items like masks, coveralls and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
On the coveralls, the government said that as of now 3.34 lakh coverall units are already available and another 3 lakh will come by April 4, as way of international donations. The government has already received about 10,000 coveralls from Red Cross as donations.
The government has also outlined and identified 11 domestic producers of coveralls and have placed an order for 21 lakh units of coveralls. According to the government, the 11 domestic producers currently have a capacity of manufacturing about 6000-7000 coveralls and are expected to double their capacities in 10 days time.
The government had also floated a global tender a few days ago. It has now placed an order of 10 lakh PPE kits that have coveralls, gloves, protective glasses, goggles, and N95 masks through a Singapore based platform. An order of 20 lakh coveralls has also been placed with a South Korean firm.
As far as N95 masks are concerned, the government has said that about 12 lakh units are already available at government hospitals and they have been distributing about 6.4 lakh in the last 2 days. It has also ordered 2 domestic companies to produce about 50,000 masks per day. The companies are expected to double their capacity in a week’s time.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will also begin to produce about 20,000 N99 masks per day in a week’s time.
According to reports, India will need about 1 million coverall and goggles, about 4 million masks, and about 6.2 million pieces of PPEs.
With regards to ventilators, India currently has about 40,000-50,000 ventilators and of that about 14,000 have been earmarked for COVID-19 patients. The health ministry has also placed an order for 10,000 ventilators with AgVa Healthcare which are likely to come in supply by second week of April.
Bharat Electronics has also been directed to manufacture 30,000 units of ventilators. Other auto companies have been requested to start manufacturing ventilators as well.
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UK hospitals about to be flooded with ‘tsunami’ of COVID-19 patients, says Indian-origin doctor
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Dr Guddi Singh, a paediatrician who has been drafted in to help adult patients of COVID-19, said there is huge anxiety in the National Health Service (NHS), over coronavirus and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), BBC reported.
The UK’s government-run hospitals are about to be flooded with a “tsunami” of really sick COVID-19 patients, an Indian-origin doctor has said, sounding alarm that mistakes at the highest levels will result in a disaster.
Dr Guddi Singh, a paediatrician who has been drafted in to help adult patients of COVID-19, said there is huge anxiety in the National Health Service (NHS), over coronavirus and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), BBC reported.
She said that the NHS, the UK’s publicly-funded healthcare system, is about to be flooded with COVID-19 patients. The government says it is increasing the capacity for extra patients and placing orders for PPE.
Singh said that mistakes at the highest levels will result in a disaster in the UK, the report said. “The NHS is about to be flooded with a tsunami of really sick COVID-19 patients that we do not have the capacity to deal with and there is a huge amount of confusion around the use and availability of PPE,” she said.
“Hospitals in London are overwhelmed, there is still a serious shortage of PPE. We have just been told to close our eyes when any patient coughs. We feel completely helpless,” she quoted some of her colleagues as saying.
There is a massive lack of clarity in guidance from the high levels in NHS, she added.
The UK’s health officials have said that life may not return to normal for six months or longer as the death toll reached more than 1,200. There are more than 17,089 confirmed cases in the country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, has written to every UK household to ask people to stay at home and follow the social distancing rules to fight the pandemic, warning them things will get worse before they get better.
There have been at least 715,204 cases including 33,568 fatalities in 183 countries and territories.
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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter
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