COVID-19: Health Ministry asks over 10 manufactures to make protective gear

Over 10 domestic manufacturers in India have been asked to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), designed to safeguard the health of medical professionals treating coronavirus patients, the Health Ministry said on Sunday (29 March).

Components of PPE are goggles, face-shield, mask, gloves, coverall/gowns (with or without aprons), head cover and shoe cover. Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said officials of the Ministry of Textiles held a series of meetings with the technical experts and the manufacturers in India.

“WHO guidelines were understood and taking into account details of this virus, the PPE guidelines were suitably amended. Over 10 domestic manufacturers in India were identified for the purpose.

Related news | States need to be heard for ‘Team India’ to win COVID-19 challenge

They have started production also,” he told reporters. Apart from this, the government has decided to import the Personal Protective Equipment from other countries. “In collaboration with the External Affairs Ministry, we are starting the process of importing PPE from other countries,” Agarwal added.