Desi firms to make PPE, ventilators, masks to cut down export dependence
Make in India’ will protect the frontline healthcare warriors from Covid-19 with the Government on Friday emphasising that the Indian firms will now take care of the country’s need for most of the vital medical components like Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE), N-95/N99 masks and ventilators.
Claiming that the country can’t be dependent on import of these items which are in high demand globally due to the Covid-19 outbreak, PD Vaghela, Chairman of the Empowered Group-3 of the Central Government said these medical equipment are being manufactured in the country itself to protect the healthcare workers as well as the patients from the deadly virus.
“Earlier, there was no domestic manufacturing of PPE in the country and almost all of them were imported. We now have 111 indigenous manufacturers,” he said.
“Demand for PPE kits has been projected at 2.01 crore in India. We have placed orders for 2.22 crore kits out of which 1.42 crore kits are being procured in the domestic market. 1.87 lakh kits are being produced daily in the country,” he said at a Press briefing here.
Similarly, out of the total 2.49 crore N-95/ N-99 masks and 2.01 crore PPE kits ordered, 1.49 crore and 1.42 crore respectively will be procured from domestic manufacturers. The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed 3 types of new PU coated nylon/polyester and technology transfer to manufacturers of India.
The Union Health Ministry has indicated a projected demand of 75,000 ventilators till June, 2020.
“Of total demand of 75,000 ventilators, 19,398 are available and 60,884 ventilators have been ordered. “About 19,398 ventilators are available in India and orders have been placed for 60,884 more, and of these 59,884 will be made by domestic manufacturers.” Imports are to the tune of 1,000 ventilators,” he said.
The order has been placed with Bharat Electronic and Mysuru-based Skanray Technologies to manufacture 30,000 ventilators, while a second order for 10,000 ventilators has been given to a consortium of Maruti Suzuki and Noida-based ventilator maker AgVa Healthcare. Similarly, AMTZ will be supplying 13,500 ventilators, said Vaghela.
Also, “Over 4 lakh oxygen cylinders are available which is sufficient for today’s requirements. Orders for more than 1 lakh oxygen cylinders have been placed and industrial oxygen is being converted into medical oxygen,” he said.
On production of drugs and other medical equipment, he said “HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) production has increased from 12.23 crore to 30 crore per month”.
He also informed that against a demand for 35 lakh combined RT-PCR testing kits, the ICMR has ordered more than 21 lakh and close to 14 lakh kits have already been received.
The Centre has decided to handhold States in purchasing VTMs and RNA extraction kits, the official added.
“The shortage of medical equipment is going to be the biggest challenge, although the Government has already banned the export of these devices with immediate effect,” according to GlobalData which emphasised on indigenous production to meet the growing demand as the cases of the Covid-19 continue to rise in the country.
