The decision comes on the heels of India continuing to maintain a progressively declining low rate of case fatality of COVID-19 patients

Following a substantial growth in the domestic manufacturing capacity of ventilators, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has sent a proposal to the Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19 for the export of indigenously manufactured ventilators.

According to a report in Livemint, an official statement from the health ministry said this decision comes on the heels of India continuing to maintain a progressively declining low rate of case fatality of COVID-19 patients, which currently stands at 2.15 per cent. “As of 31 July 2020, only 0.22 per cent of the active cases were on ventilators across the country,” it said.

Moreover, there has been a substantial growth in the domestic manufacturing capacity of ventilators. The government, according to the report, said there are over 20 domestic manufacturers of ventilators in India. “Now with export of ventilators having been allowed, it is hoped that domestic ventilators would be in a position to find new markets for Indian ventilators in foreign countries,” the health ministry said, according to the report.

There are 1,488 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals with 2,49,358 isolation beds, 31,639 ICU beds, 1,09,119 oxygen supported beds and 16,678 ventilators, stated the Livemint report. “There are 3,231 dedicated COVID-19 health centers with 2,07,239 isolation beds, 18,613 ICU beds and 74,130 oxygen supported beds, and about 6,668 ventilators have also been operationalised.”

India has a total of 1,702,670 COVID-19 cases.

Read the full report in Livemint