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There are no tons of medical equipment lost

Published on: Apr 7, 2020 7:00 PM Author: PR Service
In order to fully inform the public, which over the past two days has been the target of malicious allegations of the disappearance of two tons of medical equipment and various conspiracy theories, we announce that all medical equipment purchased by Montenegro for the protection of the health and lives of citizens is in our country's possession and that most of it is delivered.

Based on the stated needs of the health system of Montenegro and the employees of that system, who are on the front line of the fight against the novel coronavirus, the National Coordination Body initiated – through the Pharmaceutical authority of Montenegro "Montefarm" –procurement from the People's Republic of China: 1,500,000 surgical masks, 170,000 N95-type masks, 30,000 protective apparels, 20,000 safety goggles, 1,000 coronavirus test kits, 150 thermometers and 20 ventilators.

Based on the supplier's initial information on the estimated weight and, more importantly, the volume of the goods in this case, a suitable transport aircraft was ordered. On Friday, 3 April, after customs procedures were completed in Beijing, most of the goods were boarded. The mass of goods loaded was certainly more than twice smaller than the payload, but since it was goods of specific weight, the volume was limited. The plane was loaded to the maximum of the cargo space, which the public could see on the videos and photos posted after landing in Podgorica.

As the restriction was not the mass but the volume, the supplier and the freight forwarder informed the buyer that the aircraft was loaded to the maximum and that their estimate was 19 tons of medical equipment. The Government published this information. After the plane had already flown to Podgorica, the remaining goods were listed, measured and stored. Based on the inventory and measurement of the remaining goods, it was determined that the aircraft did not board 19 tons, according to the first estimate of suppliers and freight forwarders, but 17 tons of medical equipment, which was announced to the public after the plane landed.

The warehouse at Beijing Airport has 392 boxes remaining: 332,000 surgical masks, 153,330 N95-type masks, 1,850 protective apparels and 2,000 safety goggles.

The rest of the medical equipment will be shipped to Montenegro in the coming days, along with the large amount of donated medical equipment received by our Embassy in Beijing by friendly legal and natural persons in the PRC.

For those who would like to develop new conspiracy theory, we are ready to take the risk and inform that, according to preliminary estimates, the weight of the donated equipment is about 9 t and the volume is about 49 m³.

The National Coordination Body also takes this opportunity to express satisfaction with the fact that most of our citizens and legal entities, while aware of the gravity of the situation in the whole world, strictly adhere to all measures prescribed for the protection of health and lives. At the same time, the encouragement, but also the additional impetus, is the fact that, according to a public opinion poll conducted for the needs of the UN in Montenegro, 95% of citizens express confidence in our work and undertaking. We express our respect and gratitude to them.

Continued successful fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic implies unity, solidarity and trust, as it has been so far. The National Coordinating Body contributes to this with accountability and maximum transparency. Therefore, there is no reason for doubt and imputation. 95% of citizens see and feel it. There is nothing secret, no shortage of equipment, no lost tons.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

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