The Ministry of Commerce is working hard to ensure people have access to essential medical supplies which are critical to the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities, including liquid oxygen and oxygen cylinders, arranging the continuous importation on public holidays.
Yesterday, 606 oxygen concentrators, 500 PPE suits were imported through the Yangon International Airport while 12 tonnes of liquid oxygen cylinders, 1,440 empty oxygen cylinders, one storage container/tank and one oxygen generator via seaports. In addition, 39 tonnes of liquid oxygen, 36 tonnes of oxygen liquid in cylinders, one liquid oxygen storage container/tank, seven oxygen plants, six oxygen generators, 1,113 home oxygen concentrators, 24,000 test kits, 112,500 PPE suits, 13 tonnes of gloves and 67 tonnes of masks were imported through border trade points.
From 1 July to 21 August, 1,930 tonnes of liquid oxygen by bowser, 877 tonnes of liquid oxygen cylinders, nine tonnes of gas oxygen on bowser, 187 tonnes of liquid oxygen cylinders, 13 storage containers, six liquid oxygen distributors, 183,151 empty oxygen cylinders, 48 oxygen plants, six oxygen refills for hospitals, two oxygen refills, 28 oxygen generators, 152,625 oxygen concentrators, 508,686 test kits, 855,400 PPE suits, 113 tonnes of gloves and 2,712 tonnes of masks were imported.
Of 95 liquid oxygen bowsers imported between 1 July and 21 August, 70 of them were distributed to Yangon, 15 to Mandalay, two to Bago, four to Mawlamyine, one each to Thaton, Thanbyuzayat, Monywa and Nay Pyi Taw respectively.
Among 48 oxygen plants, 15 were allotted to Yangon, five to Lashio, four to Bago, five to Mandalay, three to Kyaukpadaung, two each to Pakokku, Hpa-an, Mawlamyine and Monywa and one each to Taunggyi, Thanbyuzayat, Magway, Dawei, Wakema, Myittha, Mogaung and Kyaukdaga respectively.
The Ministry of Commerce also released a statement that the border trade camps will provide services as usual during the holidays from 23 to 31 August and the Department of Trade will go fully online for export/import licences.
It is reported that the Ministry of Commerce is allowing the importation of COVID-19 devices in accordance with the SOP priority negotiated by relevant departments, and announcements related to the imports of medical supplies and equipment are posted on commerce.gov.mm.—MNA
