Covid-19: gov\'t working to bring 135 additional ventilators

The government is working to bring in 135 additional ventilators under the protocol set for expenditure for emergencies, as stated under the Public Finance Act of the Maldives.

This was revealed during a press briefing on Monday night to provide the latest information regarding the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the Maldives. As such, spokesperson for all things Covid-19, Mabrook Aziz revealed that four parties submitted proposals to bring in four portable ventilators when the opportunity was opened.

He added that the government has not spent from the state budget to bring in more ventilators through local companies.

Out of the 135 ventilators, agreements have been made with two companies to bring in 50 ventilators and 20 ventilators respectively and neither of these two companies have been remunerated in advance.

Mabrook added that 65 stationary ventilators and 10 portable ventilators are also being sourced by the World Health Organization and work is underway to bring them.

The government has provided an advance payment of 75% for these, said Mabrook.

Further, he added that the relevant authorities will thoroughly look into any corruption in these procedures, if observed.

This comes at a time south-Machchangolhi MP Haitham Ahmed has sought from the People’s Majlis to question Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen regarding the ventilators the government is expecting to receive.

On 6 April, minister Ameen had revealed that the government is expecting to receive a shipment of ventilators within the past week. Speaking during the routinely press conferences held by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), Ameen revealed that the new ventilators were expected to arrive on Thursday.

As such, MP Haitham has sought from the speaker to summon the minister for questioning regarding the ventilators. He is seeking to ask the minister on the updates and process of bringing in the ventilators and the reason why the ventilators have not arrived yet.

As some of the patients who suffer from the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic more severely and are required to be put on ventilators, the government earlier revealed that they are working to bring more as the pandemic spreads. Mabrook Aziz revealed to press earlier that currently, there are only 97 operational ventilators in the Maldives currently. These ventilators are being used in various hospitals, both private and state-owned, across several outlying atolls and the capital.