The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 29, 2021
At a time when India is facing an acute shortage of oxygen supply amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the United Kingdom has sent more vital oxygen equipment to India in support of the country’s fight against COVID-19.
Three oxygen generation units have been sent from surplus stocks in Northern Ireland to support India by providing more oxygen to those suffering from COVID-19.
Each of the oxygen units is each capable of producing 500 litres of oxygen per minute, enough for 50 people to use at a time. Oxygen is one of the main needs of India’s healthcare system.
This follows the UK’s recent action to support India, with 495 oxygen concentrators and 200 ventilators sent from surplus stocks. The first batch of these medical supplies arrived in Delhi on Tuesday and the rest on Friday. The equipment will be transferred to Indian hospitals.
The support was sent in response to a request from India and a pledge from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the UK to do all it can to help. The assistance package has been sourced by the Department of Health and Social Care and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Speaking about the medical aid, the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “We stand with our Indian friends in their fight against COVID-19.”
“International collaboration is more essential than ever, and this additional UK support package will help meet India’s current needs, particularly for more oxygen,” Raab added.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata, Nick Low said: “It’s wonderful to see the United Kingdom and India deepening their cooperation against COVID-19 for the benefit of all our people, no matter where they live. I’m touched that so many friends back home, most of whom have never been to India, have been in touch to say that they have made donations. This is the friendship between our people, our cities and our regions.”
India has this week reported its highest numbers of new daily cases and deaths since the pandemic began and is facing severe shortages of oxygen.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has worked closely with the NHS, as well as suppliers and manufacturers in the UK to identify surplus life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.
