PPE and COVID 19

COVID 19 has posed innumerable issue for the world community. One of them is the shortage of Personal protection Equipment (PPE)

It is a very important part of equipment for handling proven or suspected COVID 19 individuals. It needs to be used by individuals who cannot maintain physical distance from persons. They are healthcare workers; Doctors, nurses and paramedic who need to examine evaluate and investigate such persons. The equipment consists of goggles, face shield, Mask, gloves, gown, head gear and shoe cover.

There is a global shortage of PPE mostly real, but also contributed by Panic buying, stockpiling, rationing and supply chain issues. A number of hospitals have been facing this issue from their staff because of this shortage. There has to be a just distribution.  India has ordered 1 million PPE’s from China, Singapore and South Korea. The demand is going to become exponential as number of cases mount with increasing rapid testing being planned within a week’s time. There have been directives for Indian manufacturers to speedup and organizations like DRDO, Indian Railway are on the job . Each PPE costs approximately Rs 800 to Rs 4000, this also needs regulation because in many hospitals this will eventually be passed on to the patient.