The Health Ministry has taken immediate measures to supply Oxygen as well as Oxygen therapy equipment to the hospitals to expedite treatment for COVID positive patients, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.
The Minister made this observation on the occasion of distributing Oxygen Supply Equipment worth Rs. 386 million including 40 High-flow Oxygen Machines from the World Bank Fund under the COVID-19 emergency response project yesterday.
“High-flow nasal oxygen is required for critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We are currently having about 350 High-flow Oxygen machines. We have already ordered another 350 High-flow Oxygen machines.” she said.
According to the Minister, around 612 million High Flow Oxygen Concentrators, 200 oxygen concentrators, 385 multipara monitors, 410 syringe pumps and 400 infusion pumps worth Rs. 650 million have been provided to COVID treatment centres islandwide.
The equipment has been distributed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and more equipment is scheduled to be received in the near future.
United Nations Project Office Resident Manager Sudhir Muralitharan, World Bank Project Director Dr. Jayasundera Bandara, Deputy Director-General, Department of Biomedicine and Deputy Director-General of Medical Supplies Janapriya Karunatilake also participated on this occasion.
