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Coronavirus: Chinese firms see surge in demand from India for medical oxygen devices
- Beijing has encouraged companies to help meet the country’s urgent need for supplies amid a devastating second wave
- But factories say there is now a shortage of the components used to make oxygen concentrators, and that has pushed up prices
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Chinese companies have seen a spike in demand from India for medical oxygen equipment after Beijing pledged to mobilise support for the country as it struggles with a worsening Covid-19 crisis.
China is the world’s biggest manufacturer of oxygen concentrators, and some factories say the demand has led to a shortage of the components needed to make them, pushing up prices.
Beijing has said it is highly concerned about the situation in India, where a second wave of the pandemic has seen record daily infections and an acute shortage of medical supplies and hospital beds. In the last 24 hours, the country recorded 366,161 new cases and 3,754 related deaths, and there is mounting pressure for a nationwide lockdown.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 30 said China was ready to strengthen cooperation with India to fight the pandemic and provide support.
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On Sunday, Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong said the first shipment of medical supplies donated by the Red Cross Society of China had arrived in the country. It included 100 oxygen concentrators and 40 ventilators, and Sun said the organisation would also provide US$1 million to the Indian Red Cross Society.
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But Beijing has so far mostly encouraged private Chinese companies to help meet India’s urgent demand for medical equipment.
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