COVID-19: Medtech Maldives brings in 20 more ventilators

Medtech Maldives on Thursday confirmed the arrival of 20 more ventilators it was tasked with bringing by the Maldivian government, for the country's COVID-19 response efforts.

According to Medtech, two of the 20 ventilators were procured in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO) to advance the country's health sector, and will be handed over to WHO Maldives.

The ventilators are produced by GE Healthcare of the United States and Imtmedical of Switzerland, two leading manufacturers of medical technology approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US.

This is the second batch of ventilators procured by Medtech, which holds an MVR 14.4 million contract with the government to bring in a total of 50 ventilators to Maldives.

The first shipment comprising 18 ventilators arrived in the country on May 10.

The company assured that the remaining 12 will be brought in by mid-July as scheduled.

Medtech had also donated 1,000 antibody testing kits to state-owned Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in May, to aid with Maldives' response to the local COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition to Medtech, the government has standing agreements with two other companies; a contract valued at MVR 8.3 million with Naadu Private Limited to supply 26 ventilators and an MVR 34 million contract with Dubai-based Executors General Trading LLC to supply 75 ventilators through the World Health Organisation (WHO).

A number of private entities, from Chinese enterprises to resort owners in Maldives, have also donated ventilators and other necessary medical supplies, to assist the nation in its efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of infection.

Maldives presently records total of 2,382 confirmed cases, out of which 414 are active cases of COVID-19. Thus far, the country records 1,954 recoveries and ten fatalities.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 10.8 million people and claimed over 519,100 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 6 million people have recovered.