Province To Ship 100 Surplus Ventilators To India

Despite being over a 20 hour flight - with connections - from Regina to Delhi the provincial government has decided to send 100 surplus ventilators to assist India as tens of thousands have active cases of COVID - 19 and had over 3,400 deaths on Monday largely due to a lack of medical equipment and oxygen.

"Saskatchewan has a close and growing friendship with India, so it is incumbent on us to assist them where we can during this challenging time in their country," Premier Scott Moe said in a statement. "With an excess supply of ventilators in Saskatchewan, we are well positioned to provide this humanitarian support to India during a time of great need."

India is a major trading partner with Saskatchewan and many people who now call Saskatchewan home originated from that country.

The 100 ventilators the Province will send - 30 critical care and 70 subacute ventilators - will reduce the surplus of ventilators from an excess supply of 700 ventilators to an excess supply of more than 600 critical care, subacute and non-invasive ventilators.

The Province will work with the Saskatchewan's trade officials and the Indian High Commission in Canada to ship the ventilators to India in a timely and secure manner.