The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 3, 2021
The British government will send 1,000 more ventilators from its surplus supply to Indian hospitals. This will be in addition to 200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators and three oxygen generation units the UK has announced as part of its assistance package last week.
Apart from providing medical supplies, England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Advisor Patrick Vallance have spoken to their Indian counterparts for providing advice, insight and expertise.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to agree a “huge range” of commitments to deepen cooperation between the two countries, including on combating the coronavirus pandemic
“The terrible images we have seen in India in recent weeks are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India. I am deeply moved by the surge of support the British people have provided to the people of India and am pleased the UK government has been able to play our part in providing life-saving assistance,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
During his call with Prime Minister Modi, the British Prime Minister will emphasise the importance of working with India to promote our shared values.
The National Health Service (NHS) will establish a clinical advisory group led by NHS England Chief People Officer Prerana Issar to support India’s COVID-19 response. This group, which will include researchers in global and public health alongside nurses and other health professionals, will work with institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
“This support will help urgently meet some of India’s acute needs, particularly oxygen for patients. We are determined to help our Indian friends in their hour of need,” said UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. “We need to all work together to defeat Covid-19. No one is safe until we are all safe,” he added.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata, Nick Low said: “I’m so pleased to see the United Kingdom sending further life-saving equipment and people across Britain rallying to provide assistance to India.”
