Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

India and China have established an air bridge to bring badly required test kits, personal protection equipment (PPE) and even thermometers.

In the past two weeks, around two dozen flights arrived from five cities in China carrying nearly 400 tonnes of medical supplies, including RT-PCR test kits, rapid antibody test kits, PPE and thermometers.

• In the past two weeks, two dozen flights arrived from China carrying nearly 400 tonnes of medical supplies, including RT-PCR test kits, rapid antibody test kits, PPE and thermometers.
• Around 20 more flights are expected to bring in supplies from China in the coming days, and the procurement is likely to be stepped up considerably in the next few months.

Around 20 more flights are expected to bring supplies from China in the coming days, and this is likely to be stepped up considerably in the next few months as the procurement efforts gain momentum, said the MEA official spokesperson.

“As a result of these efforts, we have started receiving some of the equipment, and expect further supplies of test kits, PPEs, masks, etc., in the coming weeks,” said the spokesperson. As part of the government’s response to the Covid-19 situation, the MEA is playing a key role in the Empowered Group to ensure availability of essential medical equipment and supplies. This has pitch-forked Indian missions at the forefront of efforts to ensure quick implementation of procurement plans from overseas.

The MEA spokesperson also spoke about several initiatives. One significant development has been the enabling of a South Korean firm to produce 5 lakh Covid-19 rapid antibody testing kits every week in its plant in Manesar, Haryana.