India Post News Service
India has become the latest epicenter of the coronavirus worldwide, as overwhelmed hospitals there deplete supplies of beds, high-flow oxygen, and necessary medicines. With over 24 million confirmed cases and 270,000 deaths, India’s caseload is the second highest after the U.S. But experts believe that the country’s steeply rising curve may finally be flattening — even if the plateau is a high one, with an average of 340,000 confirmed daily cases last week. On Monday 17 May, infections continued to decline as cases dipped below 300,000 for the first time in weeks.
Physicians For India (PFI) is led by the 1995 batch of physician alumni from the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. Many of them are in India practicing medicine and struggling daily with the surge that the pandemic has caused. The rest of the alumni may be spread across the world but are united in the collective fight against Covid.
After sending 50 oxygen concentrators to the University College of medical sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital Delhi, the group has partnered with United visions international, a 501c3 US non-profit organization, to raise an additional USD 200K for sending 300 oxygen concentrators and other needed medical supplies. Our group is unique given the fact that we have families and friends in India, thus giving us an unparalleled outreach to identify and help stressed hospitals and local organizations involved in the care of COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Rohit Arora, MD, Attending Physician, Intensive Care Unit, Washington Township Medical Foundation. You can donate at https://physiciansforindia.org/donors/. Currently, Indian-American physicians, “are using all their contacts and resources to help various hospitals in India.”
Shipment One: 50 Oxygen Concentrators
- Raised total $42,212. $34,266 of this amount was from UCMS Alumni and $7,946 from Sacramento Indian Community.
- Purchased 50 devices (5 Liters/min models) for $28,350 from an FDA-registered, New York-based medical device company. This price included GST and Shipping costs.
- The devices were delivered to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in two batches: 15 devices on May 9th and 35 devices on May 13th. Read this letter of receipt from Dr. Manish Narang, President, UCMS Alumni Association for the first consignment.
- Balance: $13,862
Shipment Two: 192 Oxymizers
Oxymizers are disposable oxygen conservation devices that offer oxygen therapy patients a comfortable alternative to using an oxygen mask. Oxymizer Conservers can be used while oxygen patients eat, drink or talk. We purchased the ‘Pendant Oxymizer’ that can be used with a continuous oxygen flow of up to 15 LPM. This Pendant Oxymizer features a reservoir that can be worn under clothing. They are compatible with oxygen concentrators, compressed oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen.
Manufactured by Drive Medical. Item number P-224. They deliver an oxygen conserver ratio of 4:1.
- Invoice: $2,399.92. Shipping cost: $800
- Paid using the balance remaining after Shipment One.
- Shipped on May 14th, 2021. Currently en route to Delhi.
- Balance: $10,662.08 was donated to United Visions International on behalf of UCMS alumni for Shipment Three.
- Note: The underlined numbers above are approximate. We are awaiting receipts.
Shipment Three: 100 Oxygen concentrators
- Successfully raised $100,000 in collaboration with United Visions International, a 501(c)(3) registered in California.
- Order for 100 units has been placed on May 14th, 2021.
- Current status: Coordinating the logistics of transport to and customs clearance in Delhi.
- Distribution plans: We’ve been soliciting support applications through our PFI support form and created a prioritized list of hospitals and small clinics. Our local PFI team leaders in Delhi will be coordinating the distribution operation.
- All 50 concentrators we sent have reached and are being used in pt care. Rest 102 are being shipped to India this week and we have a distribution team ready on ground with hospitals already shortlisted for support.
- Total money raised by PFI has reached 150 K
- Sutter Sacramento has donated 150 ventilators and 300 Oxygen concentrators
- We were able to secure 40 ventilators from Wellstar and PPE from North Shore health
- We are currently partnering up with Doctors for you and Covid India Campaign this gives us deeper penetration to peripheral areas and facilitates rapid capacity building for future waves and vaccination.
