Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether India has requested supplies of amphotericin B from the UK.

The Government of India requested supplies of amphotericin B on 19 May. The UK Government does not hold stockpiles of amphotericin B, therefore cannot directly assist. In line with the extensive scientific and medical collaboration already underway, on 25 May India's Chief Scientist held a virtual meeting with Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. In this meeting, they discussed research insights as well as identifying and mitigating risks in relation to black fungus.

As the Prime Minister has said, we stand side by side with India as a friend and partner in the fight against COVID-19, and send our solidarity and condolences to the Indian people at this difficult time. The UK has worked closely with the Indian Government to put together a package focusing on India's most urgent needs, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and oxygen generating units. The latest shipment was delivered on 9 May, which brought the total package of equipment to 495 oxygen concentrators, 1,200 ventilators and three oxygen generating units.