UK sends 1,000 more ventilators to India ahead of Modi-BoJo virtual meeting on Tuesday

LONDON: The UK government will send 1,000 more ventilators to India ahead of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson holding a virtual meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar is flying to London to attend the G-7 foreign and development ministers’ meeting commencing Monday and will also hold a bilateral meeting with UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab.
As for whether the UK could share surplus vaccine stock with India, Raab said: "In terms of vaccines, they have their contracted supply. I have not had a request on that."
Johnson and Modi are expected to agree to deepen cooperation, including on fighting the pandemic. "The terrible images we have seen in India recently are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India. The UK will always be there for India in its time of need," Johnson said.
The ventilators will be sent from the UK’s surplus supply to Indian hospitals to help the most severe Covid cases.
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance are providing advice and expertise to their Indian counterparts whilst NHS England is establishing a clinical advisory group to support India’s Covid response. The group, which includes researchers, nurses and health professionals who have experience of India’s healthcare system, will work with Indian institutions such as AIIMS to share experience on managing Covid outbreaks.
Virgin Atlantic flew 200 boxes of oxygen concentrators to Delhi on Saturday after partnering with Khalsa Aid. Further cargo space will be given free of charge on Virgin Atlantic flights this week, in association with the Red Cross.
The British Asian Trust’s "Oxygen for India" appeal, personally backed by the Prince of Wales, has raised more than £1.5 million (Rs 15 crore).