Procurement norms eased to deal with dearth
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 4: As the demand for the Personal Protections Equipment (PPE) kits and N95 masks is increasing amid rising cases of COVID-19 in J&K, the Government is coping up with the demand amid scarcity while as it has also eased up the procurement norms for the COVID related emergencies.
Sources told Excelsior that the supply of PPE kits and N95 masks is particularly low due to its scarcity and that the efforts are on to mitigate the dearth.
They referred to the lack of PPE kits and N95 masks to have emerged as ‘problem areas’ due to the overall scarcity and is being sorted out by putting in place several measures.
“PPE kits and the N95 masks are the problem areas due to the scarcity of the same and everything is being done to keep up with the demand on the ground,” the sources said.
As per the sources, the suppliers have been asked to provide what is required as per the demand and that the Government has also eased up the procurement norms keeping in view the current situation that has arisen out of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Easing up the norms is going to make the procurement hassle-free and will help us in keeping up with the demands,” the source added.
While explaining the easing up of the norms, the source said that the tendering will no longer be mandatory for the COVID-19 related emergency.
It was further said that on Friday, the supply of 4.5 lakh triple layer masks, and 14000 has been received and on Saturday, a supply of more 55, 000 sanitizers has been received-the supplies which will be distributed down the line in according to the need.
As per figures, as of April 1 this year, the Government has issued a varied supply to the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, GMC, Baramulla and Anantnag.
The numbers depict the shortage of the necessary PPE kits as well as the N95 mask, which have been issued to the hospitals in less numbers in comparison to the others.
The numbers reveal that as of April 1, a total number of 14000 hand sanitizers, 280,000 triple layer masks, 300 PPE kits and 2000 N95 masks have been issued to the GMC, Srinagar which were later supplied to other hospitals as well-designated as COVID-19 hospitals.
Further, with regard to supply provided to the DHSK as of April 1, a total of 11, 510 hand sanitizers, 600 PPE kits, 86, 500 triple layer masks and 1900 N95 masks has been given so far.
The supply that the government has provided to the GMC Baramulla as of April 1 includes 2100 hand sanitizers, 50 PPE kits, 40, 000 triple layer masks, no N95 masks.
To GMC, Anantnag, the supply provided as of April 1 includes, a total of 1900 hand sanitizers, 50 PPE kits, 40, 000 triple-layer masks and 500 N95 masks have been given so far.
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