India had earlier sent medicines to France during a critical phase in its battle against the pandemic

As a gesture to India’s prompt export of medicines in April to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, France has delivered 130 ventilators, 50,000 test kits and 50,000 swab kits to help India as the number of cases has crossed 1.5 million. The consignment was handed over to Indian Red Cross by French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain at a military airport in New Delhi, said a Khaleej Times report..

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, said when France was going through a critical phase of this public health crisis earlier this spring, India was by their side. According to the report, he said the medicines sent by India were ‘essential for the treatment of critically ill patients’.

Mr Lenain said “Delighted to hand over COVID-19 medical equipment from France to Shri RK Jain, Secy General @IndianRed Cross. France earlier granted 200 million euros in financial aid to India through @AFD_en (French development agency). With @IFCCI1 CSR committee, French companies, too, have contributed to relief efforts in India,” tweeted Mr Lenain.

France donated 50 Osiris-3 ventilators and 70 Yuwell 830 ventilators and BiPAP mode. It also includes 50,000 high-quality serological IgG/IgM test kits and 50,000 nose and throat swabs and modes of medical transport.

The Embassy said Osiris ventilators are very much useful for emergency transport, intra-hospital transfer and recovery. These equipment have different ventilation modes, including non-invasive ventilation.