Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reacts to the DRDO released antibody test kit for the early screening of COVID-19, Dipcovan. He questioned if DRDO should be concentrating on research related to defence.

Soon a day after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) made it a statement that it had developed an antibody test kit for the early screening of COVID-19, Digvijay Singh questioned if the agency under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is into full-time research on health issues? Or they’d be concentrating over defence research too.

Digvijay Singh on his Twitter, asked aiming at DRDO that-

“shouldn’t they concentrate on research related to Defence and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) be doing research on medicines and other health issues.”

Contents hide
1. About the screening kit and DRDO’s efforts against Covid-19
2. ‘Oxycare’ system to Covid-19 speciality hospitals and helping the country

About the screening kit and DRDO’s efforts against Covid-19

DIPCOVAN, the DIPAS-VDx COVID-19 IgG Antibody Microwell ELISA for sero-surveillance has been curated by the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) in collaboration with Delhi-based firm Vanguard Diagnostics Pvt Ltd.

Amid the deadly second wave of coronavirus, the DRDO has been reaching milestones by putting in a lot of efforts to fight the pandemic. Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, which is verified lab under DRDO, has also developed a drug, named 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad.

Also read- DRDO releases first batch of anti-COVID drug 2-DG: Can be taken orally by dissolving in water

The Medical Oxygen Plant (MOP) technology, developed by DRDO for On‐Board Oxygen Generation for LCA Tejas, DRDO has also helped India in battling against the crisis of oxygen for COVID-19 patients. The DRDO is under planning whether they’d be allowing 3-4 more firms to produce the drug or not.

Also read- After 2-DG drug DRDO announces antibody detection kit DIPCOVAN for COVID-19

‘Oxycare’ system to Covid-19 speciality hospitals and helping the country

The Centre has recently approved the purchase of 1,50,000 units of DRDO-developed ‘Oxycare’ system worth Rs 322 crore under the PM Cares Fund. This technology developed by Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru will be used for COVID-19 patients.

The DRDO had developed the technology for soldiers who are posted and are serving in high altitude areas. The DRDO has also established several COVID-19 dedicated hospitals across the country and are helping out people to battle against this deadly virus amid the second wave.

Also read- PM Cares approves procurement of 1.5 lakh Oxycare units made by DRDO at Rs. 322.5 crores