by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
BEL to supply 30000 Ventilators at half the price
Other factories to produce Saniters, Kits
Harish GuptaNew Delhi, April 5In a major decision, the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will supply 30,000 ventilators at half the price. Sources say that the BEL will supply these ventilators for Rs 4 lakh per piece at a no-profit no loss basis. The market price of ventilators range from Rs 8 lakhs to Rs 12 lakhs and currently unavailable globally. The BEL was roped in by the government after the SoS from the Ministry Health and Family Welfare to manufacture and supply of ventilators. The BEL will make these ventilators on no-profit no-loss basis and start delivering within the next ten days. The 30,000 ventilators are needed for the Intensive Care Units in hospitals during the next two months. The design of these ventilators was originally developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The BEL has collaborated with M/s Skanray, Mysore for the production of these ventilators as these require 150 parts and all of these parts are not manufactured by BEL. Some of the parts are needed to be imported and BEL is scouting for them now.
The Ordnance Factory, Medak has undertaken repair of ventilators in various hospitals in Hyderabad and similar exercise is undertaken in other units in states. There are 20000 ventilators in the country which are non-functional and need urgent repairs.The task force relating to critical equipment is of the view that ventilators are needed as the Covid-19, even if contained, will continue to be a major problem for the next one year for the health workers and hospitals.Other Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have also pitched in to shore up the national fight against COVID-19.Apart from this, other defence factories are being geared up to manufacture hand sanitiser as per WHO standards.
