Bangladesh moves to export professional PPE

[Bilal9]

NEWS DESK

Bangladesh has started exploring destinations for exporting globally-certified personal protective equipment (PPE) in a bid to help the world fight the novel coronavirus.

Twelve textile companies have already started production to supply PPE to the local market, and they have also been requested to export it to four countries, said Safiul Islam Mohiuddin, former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

The countries are the United States, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Nepal, according to Mohiuddin, who is also a lawmaker from the ruling party.

He said that they have discussed the issue with the commerce minister and top tax officials.

Mohiuddin said, "Four countries have already sent their demand letters to Bangladesh for sourcing high-quality PPE. But our textile mills can only manufacture the chemical resistant clothing (level 1/2) right now."

The PPE, which will be exported, are made of other fabrics and raw material, he added.

Local manufacturers have already sought the World Health Organisation's technical collaboration for meeting the standard of professional and medical PPE, Navidul Huq, a director of Niche Stitch Ltd, said earlier this week.

Currently, the procurement of raw material for the specialised fabrics is the main challenge, said Huq who has been coordinating the making of PPE by a dozen garment factories for the domestic demand.

Presently, no factory in Bangladesh has a dust-free and medical-grade environment, which is a must for producing professional and medical grade PPE (level 3/4).

"With proper training and expertise, we can make and export it worldwide," he said.

According to the WHO, there are four levels of PPE. These are full-face or half-mask, air-purifying respirator (level-1); chemical resistant clothing – one-piece coverall, hooded two-piece chemical splash suit, chemical resistant hood and apron, disposable chemical-resistant coveralls – (level 2); gloves, outer and chemical resistant (level 3); and gloves, inner and chemical resistant (level 4).

The demand for PPE skyrocketed after Bangladesh detected its first coronavirus patient on March 8.

Six Covid-19 patients have already died in the country.

Doctors and nurses are now concerned about their health safety with the possibility of an onrush of Covid-19 patients as Bangladesh lacks quality protective equipment for health personnel – a prerequisite to treat such patients.

Other professionals such as police and drivers both from private and public sectors also want PPE for their safety.

The situation has forced some garment manufacturers to go for production of primary PPE, a substitute for level 1 and 2.

Covid-19 has spread to around 200 countries and killed over 47,000 people as of yesterday.

It has already rattled the world economy into a recession, and experts are uncertain over when the situation will improve.

 

[UKBengali]

Ok as long as BD has enough supplies for itself first.

Look after BD first, then export to help others.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

wow. first customer should be pakistan than india. impressive.

 

[VikingRaider]

Ok as long as BD has enough supplies for itself first.

Look after BD first, then export to help others.

In future is it possible for us to become a front line exporter of PPE? If we can export now, then why can't later in other countries?

 

[UKBengali]

In future is it possible for us to become a front line exporter of PPE? If we can export now, then why can't later in other countries?

BD is creating a brand new industry as we speak right now.

Walton and others will supply both BD and then the rest of the world with everything from googles, protective clothing and ventilators.

Walton should look at building their own design ventilator after this pandemic is over, as they should be able to make them much more cheaply than say China, and with their high standards will find plenty of buyers.

 

[VikingRaider]

BD is creating a brand new industry as we speak right now.

Walton and others will supply both BD and then the rest of the world with everything from googles, protective clothing and ventilators.

Walton should look at building their own design ventilator after this pandemic is over, as they should be able to make them much more cheaply than say China, and with their high standards will find plenty of buyers.

Good. We also seriously should improve our medical services under strict govt monitoring. Look at India, they have huge business of medical services worldwide.

A large number of Bangladeshi also regularly visit India to take superior medical services. If we can develop this sector, we can get the service at home and also foreign countries people can come to.

But sometimes it looks too far as unfortunately in our country most of people want to be doctor only to earn only to earn money.

 

[Michael Corleone]

But sometimes it looks too far as unfortunately in our country most of people want to be doctor only to earn only to earn money

Most doctors want to be doctor for the money. I for one didn’t choose it for passion, however I grew to like the subjects

 

[VikingRaider]

Most doctors want to be doctor for the money. I for one didn’t choose it for passion, however I grew to like the subjects

I won't start any debate. I will just say that if medical system was really developed, people wouldn't visit India. We like it or not indian medical service is light years ahead of Bangladesh. I am talking about private sector though. Not talking about govt hospitals. As we Bangladeshi people visit private/non govt hospitals in India you know. And not everyone have the ability to.fly to Bangkok or Singapore. So they visit India to take medical service.

There is no harm if anyone become doctor for money. But if you take more money, you should give a better medical service. So no one will complain. Also Bangladeshi doctors mostly don't know how to behave with patients ( I am talking about most of them, not all of them. Good people are good no doubt), they don't want to listen what patient want to say, they also spend very less time with patients.

Indian doctors are polar opposite. They are very helpful and dedicated,it's a well known fact.

 

[mmr]

I won't start any debate. I will just say that if medical system was really developed, people wouldn't visit India. We like it or not indian medical service is light years ahead of Bangladesh. I am talking about private sector though. Not talking about govt hospitals. As we Bangladeshi people visit private/non govt hospitals in India you know. And not everyone have the ability to.fly to Bangkok or Singapore. So they visit India to take medical service.

There is no harm if anyone become doctor for money. But if you take more money, you should give a better medical service. So no one will complain. Also Bangladeshi doctors mostly don't know how to behave with patients ( I am talking about most of them, not all of them. Good people are good no doubt), they don't want to listen what patient want to say, they also spend very less time with patients.

Indian doctors are polar opposite. They are very helpful and dedicated,it's a well known fact.

Bangladeshi doctors are unprofessional. Have no ethics. Since i dont live in bd for long time i always wonder why bd ppl line up to go to india for treatment. Now i realize why. Bd doctors hiding when ppl need them most. Cowards.

Indian doctors doing there best and trying to help the people. And rightly so many ppl in india listen to modi to honor medical professionals. Will bd medical professionals ever get that type respect? Nope.

 

[Michael Corleone]

I won't start any debate. I will just say that if medical system was really developed, people wouldn't visit India. We like it or not indian medical service is light years ahead of Bangladesh. I am talking about private sector though. Not talking about govt hospitals. As we Bangladeshi people visit private/non govt hospitals in India you know. And not everyone have the ability to.fly to Bangkok or Singapore. So they visit India to take medical service.

There is no harm if anyone become doctor for money. But if you take more money, you should give a better medical service. So no one will complain. Also Bangladeshi doctors mostly don't know how to behave with patients ( I am talking about most of them, not all of them. Good people are good no doubt), they don't want to listen what patient want to say, they also spend very less time with patients.

Indian doctors are polar opposite. They are very helpful and dedicated,it's a well known fact.

I’ve no reason to argue with your valid arguments. I agree with it all. However private hospitals vs private hospitals... the best in Bangladesh are comparable to the best of India. However India has more trained workforce and more of those hospitals for people to go to. In Bangladesh the best I can only think of 3-4 (private sector) square, labaid, Apollo and that’s it... in India there must be more in a small state. However govt hospitals are comparable with comparable shitty doctors.
But I think there are some factors as to why Bangladeshi doctors are rude
(1 doctor per 1000 if I remember right, too much stress, patients are usually uneducated and immature/childish themselves, medical college may not focus on etiquette and ethics subjects as much as they should)
Other than that, I’ve heard of a couple of Bengali surgeons who go to India to perform operations because they’re the best in the region. However I can’t confirm that because I don’t know their names. One I remember is a cardiovascular disease surgeon

Bangladeshi doctors are unprofessional. Have no ethics. Since i dont live in bd for long time i always wonder why bd ppl line up to go to india for treatment. Now i realize why. Bd doctors hiding when ppl need them most. Cowards.

Indian doctors doing there best and trying to help the people. And rightly so many ppl in india listen to modi to honor medical professionals. Will bd medical professionals ever get that type respect? Nope.

Exactly. I didn’t understand the part where doctors started taking leaves and were refusing treatments. How are they allowed to keep their licenses is beyond me

 

[mmr]

I’ve no reason to argue with your valid arguments. I agree with it all. However private hospitals vs private hospitals... the best in Bangladesh are comparable to the best of India. However India has more trained workforce and more of those hospitals for people to go to. In Bangladesh the best I can only think of 3-4 (private sector) square, labaid, Apollo and that’s it... in India there must be more in a small state. However govt hospitals are comparable with comparable shitty doctors.
But I think there are some factors as to why Bangladeshi doctors are rude
(1 doctor per 1000 if I remember right, too much stress, patients are usually uneducated and immature/childish themselves, medical college may not focus on etiquette and ethics subjects as much as they should)
Other than that, I’ve heard of a couple of Bengali surgeons who go to India to perform operations because they’re the best in the region. However I can’t confirm that because I don’t know their names. One I remember is a cardiovascular disease surgeon


Exactly. I didn’t understand the part where doctors started taking leaves and were refusing treatments. How are they allowed to keep their licenses is beyond me

Well government need to cancel registration right way. Few weeks ago doctors whine about PPE and government providing those. So what excuses now? None. But still they are hiding. This is coward attitude. In Canada 10000 retired yes you heard it right.. retired health professionals coming back to work even they dont have to for helping people. And look at our medical professionals.

 

[Bilal9]

Well government need to cancel registration right way. Few weeks ago doctors whine about PPE and government providing those. So what excuses now? None. But still they are hiding. This is coward attitude. In Canada 10000 retired yes you heard it right.. retired health professionals coming back to work even they dont have to for helping people. And look at our medical professionals.

The Bangladesh govt. should identify these coward doctors and cancel their medical practice licenses right-away (or fine them heavily at the very least).

This is a blatant violation of the hippocratic oath and contrary to their duty to society.

 

[UKBengali]

The Bangladesh govt. should identify these coward doctors and cancel their medical practice licenses right-away (or fine them heavily at the very least).

This is a blatant violation of the hippocratic oath and contrary to their duty to society.

Yes but also double efforts at the same time to make sure that the doctors/nurses and other medical professionals are adequately supplied with protection equipment(PPE).

It wont be easy as even in the rich West they still are not fully protecting their medics against coronavirus, but will be much cheaper as garment factories and Walton are manufacturing the equipment locally now.

 

[dbc]

BD is creating a brand new industry as we speak right now.

Walton and others will supply both BD and then the rest of the world with everything from googles, protective clothing and ventilators.

Walton should look at building their own design ventilator after this pandemic is over, as they should be able to make them much more cheaply than say China, and with their high standards will find plenty of buyers.

it was my idea to turn textile manufacturers to PPE three weeks ago. You’re welcome Bangladesh!

 

[UKBengali]

it was my idea to turn textile manufacturers to PPE three weeks ago. You’re welcome Bangladesh!

Kills 2 birds with one stone:

1. Supply BD and rest of the world with PPE - especially good to be able to help the US as they take in 6-7 billion US dollars of BD exports every year.

2. Provide alternative employment for some of the garment workers that have no work anymore.