Russia has offered to supply medical oxygen and Remdesivir to India, and imports are likely to start in the next 15 days.
Indian hospitals have been reporting diminished supplies of oxygen due to the spike in Covid-19 cases. Stocks of antiviral drug Remdesivir used to treat the disease have also been running out.
Moscow has said it can supply 300,000-400,000 Remdesivir injections per week, which would increase. Talks are on to begin oxygen supplies by ship soon, officials said.
India has banned the export of Remdesivir and has waived customs duty on the import of the drug. It is also in discussion of extending the expiry date of the medicine, the report said.
For oxygen supply, the government estimates peg daily capacity increase of 1,800 metric ton (to 7,800 MT) from 6,000 MT a few weeks back—the daily consumption of medical oxygen has jumped to 4,000 MT.
The quick capacity jump is primarily due to the diversion of industrial oxygen towards medical facilities. Further, the Centre plans to import 50,000 MT of medical oxygen to meet demand.
The supply of oxygen from the UAE is likely to be hindered due to a lack of an adequate number of cryogenic tankers or ISO tankers to transport oxygen in India, the second source added.
