Coronavirus outbreak: Special planes to supply medical kits to states

New Delhi: The Centre is dispatching essential medical supplies including N-95 masks, gowns, overalls and testing kits to each state capital in special cargo planes amid the lockdown. Northeastern states have been made a priority in this exercise that is being coordinated directly by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The work began on Tuesday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown and the PM held a meeting of the empowered committee. With a massive clamp down on borders and movement of goods turning difficult, the Centre realised the importance of transporting medical equipment and essentials. States had already submitted their list of requirements to the health ministry. Sources said secretaries pointed out that it was essential to push medical equipment, including testing kits to state laboratories and N-95 masks and personal protective equipment to state health departments. The government decided to assign each state a quota for medical essentials.

According to sources, the first priority was given to northeastern states because of accessibility issues. Every state government was asked to identify a nodal officer for picking up supplies from HLL Lifecare godowns in Noida and Gurgaon. The supplies were then taken to cargo terminal of Indira Gandhi International airport and docked at places allotted to each state. Special cargo planes have now been deputed to carry them to state capitals. According to sources, supplies for the whole northeast will be offloaded at Guwahati airport.


“The supplies will be collected by other northeastern states and taken by road,” a senior official told ET. The state governments have made their director of health services the nodal officer in the capitals. The directors will dispatch choppers to airlift the supplies and deliver it to different districts that has seen geographical spread of Covid-19. Another state official, involved in the exercise in Delhi, said, “this is being monitored by advisors and secretary in PMO. We have enough N-95 masks and protective gear now. We are awaiting for cargo planes to lift and deliver to state governments.” The first priority for the state governments is to equip the dedicated Covid-19 hospitals which are being identified in each district. So far, 17 states have begun the exercise of designating one hospital for treatment of Covid-19 patients.