Amid the fear of COVID-19 outbreak in Nepal, the Nepali government has requested the government of India and China to provide medical equipment required to diagnose and treat coronavirus patients.

The government has sought 50,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (level 1), 100,000 pieces of PPE (level 2), 10,000 pieces of PPE (level 3), 500,000 pieces of PCR test kits, 100,000 pieces of VTM, 150,000 pieces of N95 masks, 10,000 infrared thermometers, 20 pieces of portable PCR, 60,000 pieces of portable PCR reagents, 20 pieces of ABG machines, five oxygen plants, 2,000 pieces of intubation sets, 20 pieces of autoclaves weighing 300 kg, 20 pieces of CRRT machine and 200,000 pieces of surgical gloves from India.

Similarly, the government has requested for the same medical equipment from China but in a relatively higher quantity as compared to India.

The government has sought 10,000 PPE (level 3), 100,000 pieces of PCR test kits and 150,000 pieces of N95 masks from China. It has also sought 100 pieces of portable ventilator with monitor and 19 mobile ambulances with lab from China.

According to Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta, Nepal will follow the Chinese model to combat the possible outbreak of Covid-19.

“We are planning to use the hospitals of security forces to treat Covid-19 patients. The Armed Police Hospital, Nepal Army and others will be used. In provinces, too, apart from the government hospitals, we will use the hospitals and other facilities being used by the security forces,” he said while referring to the Chinese model.