Around 3,000 Oxygen Concentrators Received As International Aid Including 150 From Taiwan, All Delivered Or Dispatched: Govt

Refuting the reports in certain section of media that oxygen concentrators are pending at the Customs warehouse for getting clearance from the authorities, the government on Thursday (6 May) clarified that there was no such pendency with Indian Customs.

The government also slammed such news as "totally incorrect, not based on facts and without any basis".

"The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has clarified that there is no such pendency with Indian Customs. The Indian Customs is swiftly clearing all consignments and no such figures of pendency exist across any port of import," the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that around 3,000 oxygen concentrators have been received from various countries as global aid to support efforts of Central government and the states and UTs in their collective fight against the global pandemic.

"Of these, Mauritius has sent 200 oxygen concentrators, Russia (20), UK has sent in four consignments (95+120+280+174), 80 from Romania, 700 from Ireland, Thailand (30), China (1000) and Uzbekistan (151)," the ministry said, adding that Taiwan has sent 150 oxygen concentrators to India.

"The oxygen concentrators are either delivered to the identified tertiary care institutions, or been dispatched for delivery. The relief material has been dispatched through road and air too. There are no oxygen contractors lying in the warehouse of the Customs Department," the ministry said.