Critics: China dispatching 650,000 medical kits to India, but are they safe?

Last updated on February 9th, 2023 at 01:05 pm

India’s shortage in the availability of (PPE) personal protection equipment for the medical staff continues. Amidst the need of the hour, on Thursday, China dispatches 650,000 medical kits to help India combat the Covid-19 pandemic, ET reported. However, critics are questioning the quality of the medical gears as rumors are circulating over a few faulty equipments.

India has reported 12,380 positive coronavirus cases, 414 deaths, and 1,489 recovered cases, as per worldometer. On April 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3 to contain the coronavirus crisis.

On Thursday, The Indian Envoy to Beijing, Vikram Misri, said in a press conference that China has dispatched 650,000 medical kits, and will reach India soon. India has also placed an order of 15 million PPE gears, and 3 million test kits from China to protect the frontline workers, Misri added.

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As per Economic Times, on April 6, China donated around 1.70 lakh of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including masks, eye protection, shoe cover, overall gown, and gloves, the Union Ministry stated.

Around 50,000 PPE gears failed the quality test at the Defense Research and Development Organization Lab in Gwalior, said a person who is aware of the test results but wishes to stay anonymous, told The Economic Times. However, The Indian Government officials stated that they are obtaining only FDA/CE certified kits, but some deliveries received as a donation failed the quality test.

Article Credit: The Economic Times/Business Standard/National Herald India