Provide 150 ventilators at ITBP centre: Prime Minister’s Office

New Delhi, May 1

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday directed the Union Health Ministry to provide 150 ventilators to Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre (SPCCC) in the city’s south Delhi-based Chhatarpur area.

In a letter to Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHF), Mandeep Bhandari, Prime Minister’s Adviser Bhaskar Kulbe said: “As discussed with you, 150 ventilators provided under PM CARES Trust Fund, and embedded with GPS enabled devices, may be provided from the available stock on loan basis for a period of six months now, which, if necessary, may be extended further on review.” “I also request you to organise immediate installation of these ventilators by the selected vendors (s).” Kulbe also said to advice SPCCC for the site preparation and necessary training of these ventilators by the selected vendors.

The PMO intervention comes after a request made by the ITBP Director-General, SS Deswal, seeking allocation of 150 ventilators for addressing the needs of critical patients admitted to the SPCCC. The SPCCC was reopened on April 26 with 500 beds but no arrangements were made for critical patients. — TNS