The Bengal government has denied any shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers involved in the battle against Covid-19 and launched a helpline for those who still have complaints.

“In order to provide an institutional channel for the ventilation of issues regarding the non-availability or insufficiency of PPE and other supplies, the (health) department has set up a dedicated helpline (1800-120-444-222),” a notice issued on Saturday said.

The helpline will be operational from 8am to 8pm every day.

The bus has been specially modified for blood donation during the lockdown. Picture by Sanat Kumar Sinha

“The state government is according highest priority to the procurement and supply of PPE to the frontline health workers engaged in combating Covid-19,” the health department said.

The notice cited how 'in spite of a comfortable stock position, reports are received from some medical personnel from time to time about the insufficiency or non-supply of PPE”.

A section of social media users, some of them doctors, have been writing about the alleged shortage of PPE kits in Bengal.

Some private hospitals, not the ones designated as Covid-19 treatment centres, have been accused of overcharging patients for personal protective equipment equipment.

“Regular supplies are being dispatched to the health facilities located across the state and the stock position of PPE and other supplies at different levels of the state health system is comfortable,” the health department said on Saturday.