Centre: 1.2cr PPE, 2cr masks sent to states

NEW DELHI: The Centre said it had provided over 1.18 crore PPE kits and over 2 crore N95 masks to states and central medical institutions across the country since April 1. In addition, 11,300 ‘Made in India’ ventilators were dispatched to various states.
In a detailed note on the status of protective equipment and infrastructure, the government on Friday said of the 11,300 ventilators dispatched to states, UTs and central institutions, 6,154 ventilators were delivered to various hospitals. The government is also ensuring the installation and commissioning of ventilators.
The health ministry said 1.02 lakh oxygen cylinders were being supplied to states/UTs and 72,293 of these had been delivered. Also, more than 6.12 crore HCQ tablets have been distributed so far.
Till now, 7.81 lakh PPEs and 12.76 lakh N95 masks have been supplied in Delhi, 11.78 lakh PPEs and 20.64 N95 masks in Maharashtra and 5.39 lakh PPEs and 9.81 lakh N95 masks in Tamil Nadu. These are three of the worst affected states.
The government said most of the products supplied to states like PPEs were not being manufactured in the country in the beginning and there was a global rush due to the pandemic, resulting in scarce availability in foreign markets.