Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, Israeli PM Netanyahu and Indian PM Narendra Modi have held three telephonic conversations in which they promised mutual assistance in dealing with the virus and committed to joint technological and scientific research between the countries.
It has been learnt that a team from Israel's Tel Aviv has been working with India’s chief scientist Vijay Raghavan and DRDO to develop rapid testing hit for COVID-19 which will be able to deliver results in under 30 seconds.
As per the recent development, a special flight from Israel will arrive India this week with Israeli defence ministry research and development team on board, to work with a team of Indian researchers at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Israeli mission in India said the flight will bring breakthrough emerging Israeli technologies for combating COVID-19, which have been donated by the Israel MFA and private sector meant to bolster India’s response to the virus outbreak. The plane will also deliver mechanical ventilators which were given special permission by the Government of Israel for export to India.
The Israeli companies chosen by the MFA, MOD and IDF to be sent to India are potentially given unique access to one of the largest economies in the world to provide monitoring and treatment technologies while significantly reducing contact between patients and medical staff.
India is currently facing a record number of over one million COVID-19 positive cases. India seeks to integrate advanced technologies in its hospitals as it prepares to treat massive waves of COVID-19 patients on an Indian scale.
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Merging Israeli technology with Indian development and production capabilities aims to allow a swift resumption of normal life alongside the virus.
In a series of Tweets, Israeli Ambassador to India Ron Malka said, "The unique cooperation between India and Israel has allowed both countries to better deal with the COVID-19 threat and could potentially change the way we live beside the virus."
He went on to say "I am proud to lead this Israeli delegation to India. It is at times like this that our friendship is tested, and the State of Israel is happy to lend a helping hand to India in this complicated and difficult time."