As United National Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia tweeted about receiving exports from India, doctors and equipment suppliers began asking how exports were allowed when Indian doctors and health workers were using raincoats.
At a time when authorities are struggling to provide protective gear to thousands of doctors battling coronavirus in hospitals, news of India providing tonnes of protective medical equipment to Serbia has evoked anger in the city and on social media.
“The 2nd cargo Boeing 747 with 90 tonnes of medical protective equipment landed in Belgrade today (Thursday).
The transportation of valuable supplies purchased by the Serbian government has been fully funded by the European Union while UNDP Serbia organised the flight & ensured the fastest possible delivery,” read a UNDP tweet. As United National Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia tweeted about receiving exports from India, doctors and equipment suppliers began asking how exports were allowed when Indian doctors and health workers were using raincoats.
“I’m baffled & bewildered at this. Doctors & other healthcare workers have an acute shortage of supplies and are being forced to protest to the authorities, at the risk of being vilified by the public. Yet concurrently, huge supplies are being sold overseas. Inexplicable negligence,” urologist Dr Pradeep wrote on Twitter. Sources said that surgical gloves were exported from Kochi in Kerala to Serbia.
Though the Director-General of Foreign Trade Notification has exempted surgical gloves from prohibited exports, it has prohibited the export of personal protective equipment, sanitisers, surgical masks and ventilators.
The World Health Organisation on Thursday said there was a severe and mounting disruption of the global supply of personal protective equipment.
Telangana State Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation MD Chandrashekar Reddy admitted that doctors in the state are struggling with supplies and there are no imports.
