India authorizes export of 60,000 PCR test kits to ADK Hospital

India has authorized the export of PCR test kits to a hospital in Maldives as the island battles an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.

Indian High Commission in Male’ announced in a tweet on Monday that India has authorized the export of 60,000 RT-PCR test kits to ADK Hospital.

Indian High Commission said the decision was made to assist Maldives boost its testing capacity.

ADK's chairman Ahmed Nashid has thanked Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir for his assistance in securing authorization.

Thank you your excellency @sunjaysudhir for your continued support and assistance during this very difficult time. I pray our nations thrive out of this situation ????

— ADK Nashid (@ADKNashid) May 17, 2021

India, which is battling a devastating surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by new variants, has suspended and limited the export of medical consumables and equipment.

Hospital beds in India have filled up, leaving patients to be treated in the streets and vehicles outside hospitals.

India has assisted Maldives on multiple occasions during the ongoing pandemic, easing restrictions on export of medical consumables and equipment. Maldives also received 200,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine developed AstraZeneca and Oxford from India as a donation and 100,000 more doses procured from the Serum Institute of India, before it suspended the export of vaccines following the deterioration of its domestic COVID-19 situation.