Romania to host EU stockpile of medical equipment

Romania is the first EU country that volunteered to purchase and host, on behalf of the European Union, a stockpile of ventilators, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, told the Romanian public television TVR.

A total of 150 ventilators have already been ordered and will reach Romania before being sent to countries that need them, including Spain and in Italy.

On March 19, the European Commission announced it was creating a strategic stockpile of medical equipment, such as ventilators and protective masks, to help EU countries in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The stockpile is to include items such as intensive care medical equipment like ventilators; personal protective equipment such as reusable masks, vaccines and therapeutics; and laboratory supplies.

The stockpile would be hosted by one or several member states, the Commission said at the time. The hosting state is responsible for procuring the equipment.

The Commission finances 90% of the stockpile. The Emergency Response Coordination Center manages the distribution of the equipment to ensure it goes where it is needed most.

Via RomaniaInsider/ TVR