Oxygen concentrators have arrived as part of the European Union’s aid to Serbia
As part of the additional aid, the health institutions are receiving 100 oxygen concentrators, which have arrived in Serbia today as part of the European Union aid package. These concentrators are meant for oxygen therapy in hospital treatment, reducing the mortality rate from hypoxemia with the patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Serbia has already received 800,000 protective masks during April, 300 non-contact thermometers and 100 fully equipped triage containers which are being installed all across Serbia, as part of the EUR 15 million support for the response in emergency situations. In the following days, additional medical equipment is expected to arrive, including reagents, respirators and monitors for intensive care.
Our support to Serbia in response to emergency situations helps both the medical workers and patients. Beside masks and triage containers, meant for protection of those at the first line of the battle against COVID, this part of the aid targets the decreasing of the mortality rate among patients diagnosed with the COVID, because oxygen is one of the key components of their therapy. Apart from this, these concentrators can be useful even after the end of the current corona crisis, because they can be used in clinical therapy in general
as said by Sem Fabrizi, the head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, the European Union has been giving support to Serbia on an almost daily basis, including financing of the transport of the medical equipment in the amount of EUR 7 million, realized by the office of the United Nations Development Program. It is also included in the procurement of necessary medical equipment in the amount of almost EUR 5 million, which is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Project Services in Serbia.
As we have already announced previously, we are continuing the activities which are aimed at procuring the necessary medical equipment and materials which should ensure the protection of medical workers and the best patient care in health institutions, in cooperation with the EU Delegation and UNOPS. As part of the emergency aid secured by the EU, we have, so far, delivered triage containers for patients and masks, and today we are delivering oxygen concentrators which should help the patients with the most severe respiratory problems, while in the following period we are expecting respirators, monitors and other medical equipment as well
said the Minister for European Integrations and the National IPA coordinator Jadranka Joksimović.