Protecting the healthcare system against Covid-19

Emergency contracts made to ensure supplies continue to come through

A TOTAL of €123 million has been spent by the Valencia government to ‘guarantee a supply of healthcare products’ for the regional healthcare system for the next six months.

Commissioning officer for Covid-19 pandemic María José Mira explained that €77 million in supplies had been brought in via ship in 60 containers.

She noted that this material had been ordered in June and July and ‘is mostly products which are not made in the Valencia region’.

At the same time, €46 million-worth of supplies has been purchased from regional companies.

Sra Mira said they had set up channels both in the region and abroad to ensure that the health service is supplied and ‘is ready for any eventuality related to the evolution of the pandemic’.

The material is being stored at their logistics centre at the Feria centre.

They are then able to respond to orders made by hospitals and healthcare departments.

She stated that they have purchased 55 million pairs of protective gloves; 14.7 million face masks; 5.1 million pairs of shoe protectors; 550,000 protective gowns; 1.2 million protective hats; 340,000 pairs of

Valencia exhibition protection goggles; amongst other items.

She noted that 10 million additional pairs of gloves from China area expected to arrive in August.

Sra Mira also hailed the Valencia companies which have converted their production process to make items such as respirators.

“My responsibility is to make sure that we are not short of anything and this material gets to health centres and residential homes around the region,” she said.

The silk route

Due to the global pandemic many healthcare materials are in short supply.

Over recent months they have had to make immediate agreements with manufacturers to ensure a continued supply for the regional health service, which covers the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellón.

Back in April the regional government established the ‘silk route’ which allowed for vast amounts of protective medical kit to be sourced from China and transported to the region via air and sea.

The Valencia government is now stockpiling resources to make sure that the region is prepared for any further Covid-19 outbreaks which occur before a vaccine is available. djones@cbnews.e