DRDO develops critical equipment
for fighting COVID-19
Anil Bhat
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has been
tracking the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) since the world media started
reporting its devastating impact in China’s Wuhan Province, took a call in
first week of March 2020 to enhance efforts to create counter measures to stop
the spread of the disease in India, where by then, 30 persons had been affected.
DRDO started focusing on creating mass supply solutions of critical medical
requirements and by end of March it became ready with four different items –
hand sanitizers, ventilators, facial masks and body suits.
A hand sanitizer developed in-house at DRDO was by 3rd week
of March, produced in sizable quantities and distributed to major offices and
establishments within the capital. Approximately 4,000 litres of hand sanitizer
has been provided to Indian Armed forces, incuding Armed Forces Medical Services
and Defence Security Corps, 1,500 litres to Ministry of Defence, 300 litres to
Parliament, and 500 litres to various security establishments and high offices.
The DRDO is ready to provide more hand sanitizers in large quantities to
the concerned. Initially a DRDO lab, Defence Research & Development Establishment
(DRDE), Gwalior produced approximately 20,000 litres to cater to initial
requirements of its employees and government offices/ministries. In the
meantime, DRDO identified a vendor with the WHO formulation, M/s Gwalior Alco
Brew Pvt Ltd, Gwalior. DRDE Gwalior is providing technical support and its
scientists are positioned with the company the check the quality. The capacity
is 20,000 to 30,000 litres per day, packed in 200-500 ml bottles and costing less
than Rs 120/- per litre (including GST).
Since COVID-19 affects pulmonary functions, keeping in mind the near future
requirement, Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT) programme of DRDO has
been modified to cater to the current situation. Defence Bio-Engineering &
Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore (a DRDO lab) has identified a
vendor, M/s Scanray Tech Pvt Ltd, Mysore) to produce critical care ventilators.
It has been created by using existing technologies like breath regulators,
pressure/flow sensors, etc. Presently, innovation is on to create a ‘Multi
patient ventilator’ wherein several patients can be supported by a single
ventilator. This innovation is expected to be available by second week of April
2020. Around 5,000 ventilators will be produces in the first month and 10,000
subsequently. DRDO has identified local alternatives to supply critical
components. Already, Secretary (Pharmaceuticals) has identified nine companies
for design transfer to produce and Mr Anand Mahindra for fabrication of
components. Each ventilator unit will cost around Rs 4,00,000/-.
Five layer N99 masks with two layers of nano mesh, considered very
advanced and one of the critical items to stop the spread of Corona are going
to be produced M/s Venus Industries Mumbai, M/s IMTEC Kolkata. With material
for these masks is sourced from Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research
Association, which already has plenty of government orders for N95 masks,
10,000 N99 masks per day will cost Rs 70/- per piece.
Delhi Police (DP) has been provided 20,000 three ply masks and 1,000
litres of hand sanitizers by DRDO, which in addition, also distributed hand
sanitizers to DP’s 40 nakas (check-points) all around Delhi.
Body suits, a critical requirement for doctors, medical staff,
sanitations workers, for protection against COVID-19 had already earlier been developed
by DRDO for medical and paramedical staff to manage and evacuate causalities in
the event of radiological emergencies, has been
converted as a full body suit to stop contamination. Widely tested by DRDO and other agencies and
found suitable, This washable suit has passed the ASTM International standards.
M/s Frontier Protective Wear Pvt Ltd Kolkata, with transfer of technology available,
is already working with Ministry of Textiles, and M/s Medikit Pvt Ltd Mumbai
are aiming to produce 10,000 suits per day, costing Rs 7,000/- per suit.
Bio suit production in
the country by DRDO, industry partners and other industries have been hampered
due to non-availability of seam sealing tapes. DRDO has prepared a special
sealant as an alternative to seam sealing tape based on the sealant used in
submarine applications. Presently, bio suits prepared by an industry partner, using this glue for
seam sealing cleared the test at Southern India Textile Research Association (SITRA)
Coimbatore. This can be a game changer for the textile industry. DRDO can mass
produce this glue through industry to support the seam sealing activity by suit
manufacturers.
DRDO has developed a number
of products and technologies for defence against Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) agents. Defence Research and Development
Establishment (DRDE) Gwalior, a laboratory of DRDO, has developed Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Permeable Suit Mk V. 53,000 of
these suits have been supplied to Army and National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF).
For first responders
attending to radiological emergencies, a reusable suit has been developed by Institute
of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) Delhi. Aerial Delivery
Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) Agra has developed various types
of parachutes with fabrics similar to protective technical textiles.
The author, a strategic
analyst and former spokesperson Defence Ministry and Indian Army can be
contacted at wordsword02@gmail.com
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