Preparations to procure medical supplies from China through government to government arrangements are in the final stage.
The COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) and the Chinese Commerce Ministry have been coordinating and exchanging the list of materials to be procured.
Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali told Setopati that the two sides have talked several times through video conferencing. He added that the list of medical supplies to be brought has also been finalized.
"Materials are being gathered. We will bring the materials gathered from different places of China from Guangzhou," he said. "We have sent the list mentioning priority and importance. I cannot give the exact number of days but they will arrive sooner rather than later."
The Nepal Army (NA) after coordination with the Health Ministry had sent the list of supplies through the Finance Ministry after being handed the responsibility of procuring supplies through government to government arrangements.
The final list of the supplies to be brought will be prepared by the CCMC though.
The NA had proposed to China, India, South Korea, Israel and Singapore for procuring the supplies.
"There was anomaly in price of some materials sent by China. We have sent it back after correcting some," an army source confided. "The process to bring supplies will start after China sends the final list."
The source revealed that Nepal is 81st in the list of countries trying to procure medical supplies from China. "China has said it cannot provide ventilators immediately but can provide other materials. We immediately need PPEs, masks and reagents. China has said it can provide them."
India has told the army that it will provide the materials it can to the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi while South Korea has sent the list of companies from which the materials can be procured.
The army source added that discussions are still on with Singapore and Israel.
