Respirators and Monitors from Norway and EU worth 4.5 million Euros are Arriving

The first forty out of 100 monitors for intensive care, which were procured with funds of the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway, arrived in Serbia and will be delivered to health institutions as a supplement to the existing equipment in semi-intensive and intensive care units. Also, with the support of the EU and Norway, Serbia will receive 50 anesthesia devices that include respiratory monitoring and comprehensive monitoring of vital parameters. Three such devices have already been delivered, ten devices will arrive tomorrow, and the remaining 37 pieces are expected during the first week of May. The value of this equipment is 3.2 million euros.

"We are highly grateful to our friends from Norway and the European Union, who have shown a great intention to help us, and this equipment is extremely important, especially because of the second wave we are preparing for. Thanks to this equipment, we will have many more intensive care beds, which will measure the capacity of our health system, especially for the treatment of lung and cardiovascular diseases. This equipment will not stay only in larger cities, but we will send it everywhere in Serbia where it is needed, so that people do not need to be transported to Belgrade ", said the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić during the visit to the warehouse of the company Milšped in Krenješevci, from where the equipment is transported to health institutions in the country in accordance with the assessments and needs of the Ministry of Health.

During the first half of May, 70 respirators needed for critical care of COVID-19-positive patients should arrive in Serbia. The total value of these devices, 50 financed by EU and 20 by Norway, is 1.3 million euros.

At the beginning of the crisis, the Kingdom of Norway determined funds for emergency aid in the fight against the coronavirus.

"Our solidarity with Serbia has deep roots in the long friendship of the two peoples, so I am extremely glad that we can help combat the crisis by improving the capacity of intensive care units. We have been waiting impatiently for this day because the delays were caused by very difficult conditions on the international market of sophisticated medical equipment. But, all these valuable devices that arrived and will arrive in Serbia in the coming days, will significantly improve the capacities for the treatment of patients in Serbia, and Norway is ready to contribute to long-term measures," said Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia Jørn Eugene Gjelstad.

As part of its "global response" to the fight against the current pandemic, worth 15.6 billion Euros, the European Union has determined initial support to Serbia of 93 million Euros, and one part of that aid of almost five million Euros includes the purchase of this necessary medical equipment.

"Since the beginning of the crisis, the European Union has constantly worked in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation to respond to Serbia's request and procure and deliver important medical equipment for health institutions. We immediately earmarked 93 million Euros, of which 15 million were immediately used for the purchase and transport of the most urgent medical equipment, which arrives in Serbia every day. That is why I am delighted because today I am attending the delivery of additional medical devices with the President. As we provide assistance in this critical phase, we continue to strengthen the health care system in Serbia. This equipment will be beneficial in the future, and the European Union will remain with Serbia and its people," Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia said.

All medical equipment donated by the European Union and Norway, primarily respirators, monitors for monitoring vital functions of patients, as well as devices for anesthesia and supportive respiratory therapy, are intended for shorter or longer respiratory support in patients suffering from acute respiratory distress, spasm or obstructions, so this support to the health system in Serbia contributes not only to the suppression of the COVID-19 virus but also to its comprehensive and regular functioning.

The procurement of this medical equipment is carried out by the United Nations Office for Project Services - UNOPS, which has launched an emergency procurement mechanism globally. The President of Serbia and Ambassadors Fabrizi and Gjelstad thanked UNOPS for their reliable partnership and perseverance in the process of procuring medical equipment in challenging moments on the unstable international market.

Photo: EU Info Center