Coronavirus outbreak: Need for SITRA nod slows coveralls supply

NEW DELHI: A mandatory requirement to get personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical purposes tested at a Coimbatore-based laboratory is crippling the ability of manufacturers to step up output in response to the pandemic in India.The Preventive Wear Manufacturers’ Association of India (PWMAI) and the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) have asked the government to allow them to self-attest products in the view of the shortage of coveralls for healthcare providers.The testing requirement, along with lack of air services and courier facilities will result in unnecessary further delays, the associations said.Samples of body coveralls — surgical gowns and drapes — have to be sent to South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) for testing and certification, as per specifications. “This is not practical, especially in view of the lockdown,” said Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, AiMeD. “We have asked them to give alternative laboratories or allow the manufacturers to self-attest to make PPE available without further delay.”There is a shortage of vital equipment needed to protect healthcare staff from catching infection as the number of Covid-19 cases rises.“It is not practical at this point in time to get the fabric tested from SITRA. Also, the specifications say that the coveralls should be taped at the seams to prevent fluid/droplets/ aerosol entry. We don’t have a machine in India to tape at the seams,” said Sanjiiiv Relhan, chairman, PWMAI.The World Health Organisation had called on industry and governments to increase manufacturing of PPE by 40% to meet rising global demand.According to the government’s own documents, containment of a cluster — lasting a month or two in a population of 100,000 — may require 2 million triple layer masks, 200,000 gloves, 100,000 N-95 masks and about 50,000 PPE kits.While there is a crunch, government officials said a committee has been formed to “make available transport and other logistics services for Covid-19 related operations including air transport, road and rail transport,” a senior health ministry official said. The committee will ensure that medical and other essential supplies are met without any delay, the official said

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