Unusable in Italy, hospital beds find new life in Ukraine
The authorities of the Italian region of Lombardy are donating approximately 200 hospital beds purchased from an Indian company deemed unsuitable for Italian facilities. The equipment, valued at nearly CAD 310,000, will be sent to Zaporizhia, Ukraine.
During the 2020 pandemic, Lombardy, the region of Italy hardest hit by COVID-19, bought 200 hospital beds from an Indian company.
Unfortunately, the equipment did not meet ISO certification requirements for quality and safety, making it unusable in Italian hospitals.
The case went to court. In 2023, the court ordered the Indian company to refund the money, but this ruling has not yet been executed. The Indian company also did not retrieve the defective goods.
Unused beds to be sent to Zaporizhia: Italians offer help
To resolve the issue, the authorities of Lombardy decided to donate the beds to Ukraine, which had requested help equipping its hospitals. The country has been facing a shortage of medical equipment for years.
The beds will be donated to facilities in Zaporizhia, a city in southeastern Ukraine.
