India modifies its stand, accepts medical help from Bangladesh, other countries

April 30, 2021

New Delhi: Deviating from its earlier declared policy, India has accepted medical help from 40 countries, including Bangladesh and China to deal with the second wave of Corona pandemic.

In a special briefing on International coopeartion on COVID pandemic, Foreign Secretary Harsh Bardhan Shringla on Thursdy said,” India is facing an unprecended situation due to outbreak of Corona.In this situation many countries offered India help and we have accepted it.”

He also hinted that once the vaccine production goes up, India may start its ‘vaccine matri’ programme in the month of May. “At the moment requirement of India is so high that export of vaccine has to be controlled. Our all partners understand this. ” Other than Bangldesh, he mentioned the names of countries as USA, UK, Australia and many other Western contries. Bangladesh Foreign ministry had yesterday announced medical help for India in the wake of pandemic Corona.

He said that India is looking at procuring 400,000 units of Remdesovir from Egypt besides exploring to get it from countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.”We normally manufacture 67,000 doses of Remdesivir a day.But the requirement today might be between 2-3 lakhs a day. So we have to bridge the gap, this is something that our producers are well aware of, they are actually ramping up the production.,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Mr Shringla repeatedly mentioned the name of USA,UK, and neighboring countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh for offering help suo moto. Besides, oxygen concentrate machines were being imported from China too, and a cargo flight was arriving from UAE with ventilators and carrying Favipiravir medicines required for treatment of the Covid affected persons.

India has prioritised imports of oxygen, he sai , adding that 40 countries had pledged their support.

“We are talking about close to 550 oxygen generating plants that are going to come in from different sources from all over the world,” Shringla said.

“India is looking at getting around 550 oxygen generating plants, 4000 oxygen concentrators and 10.000 oxygen cylinders from abroad to deal with the coronavirus pandemic”. A flight is coming from Ireland with 700 concentrators, and France’s flight will be coming in on Saturday. “We are expecting tomorrow and over next couple of days, three special flight from the US. President Biden spoke to the PM and offered extensive assistance.”

The Foreign Secretary said some medical equipment and supplies are being sourced from China “We know that number of companies have been sourcing products.Cargo flights are operating and bringing all help.”Problem arose because Sichuan airlines has stopped flight.Now India is replanning the air schedule” .