UK to send extra 1,000 ventilators to India to fight COVID-19

London: The UK plans to send additional 1,000 ventilators to Indian hospitals to support the country in the fight against COVID-19, the UK government said on Sunday.

“India’s fight against a surge in coronavirus cases will be reinforced by new UK Government support announced by the Prime Minister today. One-thousand ventilators will be sent from the UK’s surplus supply to Indian hospitals to help the most severe Covid cases,” Sputnik quoted the government as saying, citing a statement.

The new shipment of ventilators will be an addition to the 200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen generation units that the UK had previously pledged.

The government also stated that the country’s national health service (NHS England) will establish a “clinical advisory group” to help Indian institutions streamline their COVID-19 response.

“The group will include researchers in public and global health, alongside nursing and other health professionals who have experience of the Indian healthcare system,” the government said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday. (UNI)