Vyaire Medical is stepping up its response to the COVID-19 outbreak through current and planned donations of respiratory equipment to the healthcare community in India, bringing desperately needed aid to the country that has been ravaged by the virus.

The pace at which the coronavirus is spreading through the country's population of 1.4 billion people has created a humanitarian crisis. The latest estimates indicate as many as 350,000 infections are occurring each day. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients and oxygen and other medicines are in short supply.

"In our role as the world’s only medical device company focused exclusively on breathing, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to help alleviate this pain and suffering," said Gaurav Agarwal, CEO of Vyaire Medical. "To that end, we are supporting our Vyaire team members and working with customers, distributors, and non-profits to provide knowledge, services, and equipment to healthcare organizations in the region."

To date, the company's commitment comprises:

• Five Vela™ ventilators and two CPAP/BIPAP and oxygen concentrators to the Delhi E.N.T. Hospital,
• 100 bellavista™ ventilators onsite for distribution in Delhi NCR, and
• 500 oxygen concentrators planned for distribution throughout India.

"I am incredibly proud of Vyaire and our entire team. My colleagues have stepped up in numerous ways in response to an epidemic that makes its own rules," Agarwal said. "While vaccinations are helping tame the outbreak, we know COVID-19 can strike again in any country, region, or city. Now is the time to show the world that we truly embrace our mission to empower the global respiratory community to enrich patients’ quality of breathing – not only during crises like this, but throughout their lives."

Agarwal also noted the company is offering clinical expertise and training to local care teams to respond to emergency ventilation situations and to help monitor NIV needs.

The donations by Vyaire Medical provide much-needed assistance to India's healthcare providers who are besieged by the current outbreak.

“I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the help Vyaire Medical provided us to manage the current COVID crisis we are facing. It is an enormous humanitarian gesture” said Dr. Arvid C. Kacker, Joint Director and Medical Superintendent of the Delhi ENT Hospital and Research Centre.

“The donation from Vyaire Medical has greatly increased our ability to offer access and treatment to patients who require assisted ventilation," Dr. Kacker added. "It also allows us to increase our outreach program using both the donated CPAP/BIPAP and oxygen concentrators. We are now able to reach patients who would not have earlier access to hospital facilities. Over the past 2 weeks we have witnessed a record in both the number of COVID-19 cases and ORL and Head & Neck morbidity. This gesture will help all strata of Indian society in these grave times.”