India requires 27 million N95 masks, 15 million PPEs, 50,000 ventilators in 2 months

• India needs at least 27 million N95 masks, 15 million PPEs, 1.6 million diagnostic kits and 50,000 ventilators over the next two months.
• While the government prepares to procure these equipment, hospitals in India which saw a spurt of cases last week, are facing acute shortage.

India is in dire need of at least 27 million N95 masks, 15 million of protection gear, 1.6 million diagnostic kits and 50,000 ventilators over the next two months, said an Indian Express report citing government sources. According to the report, the Indian government estimated the requirement on April 3 during a meeting headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

“The demand of ventilators has been estimated to be 50,000 by June 2020. Out of these, 16,000 are already available and orders have been placed for 34,000 ventilators. To facilitate procurement of ventilators and other PPEs from abroad, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) has been taken on board,” official told The Indian Express.

While the government prepares to procure these equipment, hospitals in India which saw a spurt of cases last week, are facing acute shortage. Indian doctors, nurses and other medical staff are forced to treat Coronavirus patients without personal protective equipment (PPE).

What is PPE?

A personal protective equipment kit constitutes different wearables — head covers, glasses, N95 respirators, mask and shoe covers — that protect healthcare workers from catching any contagious virus. The World Health Organisation, recommended use of “gloves, medical masks, goggles or a face shield, and gowns, as well as for specific procedures, respirators (i.e., N95 or FFP2 standard or equivalent) and aprons” while treating any coronavirus patient.

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed 109 and affected 4067 in India as of April 6, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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