B.C. government launches new website to streamline donations, distribution of medical supplies

A new one-stop online resource is now availablefor British Columbian businesses with medical supplies they want to donate to health-care and front-line workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The website,called the COVID-19 Supply Hub, has been set upto triagesupply offers from business and other organizations. Visitors to the site can seeexactly what supplies are needed, such as masks, disinfectants and gloves, and fill out a proposal form to let the B.C. governmentknow what they have available.

Individuals can alsoregister to donate to the COVID-19 Supply Hub, but the province saysthe overall intention of the portal is to receive large commercial quantities of supplies and offers will be prioritized accordingly.

Individuals and organizations with smallquantities of spare personal protective equipment should visit SafeCare BCfor details on how to donate.

SafeCare BC Is working with the provincial health ministryto collect equipment to be added to the provincial supply.

According to the province,proposals will be quickly evaluated to make sure the right products get to the right workers on the front lines as efficiently as possible.

"By giving B.C. businesses a platform to help, we are enabling some of our best and brightest minds to meet the demands of this pandemic and help keep people safe," said Premier John Horgan in a statement Wednesday.

Critical for supply chain

The COVID-19 Supply Hub's initial focus is on sourcing supplies for the health-care system and front-line workers, but the government is also accepting offers for other essentials, like cleaning supplies.

Created under a state of emergency, the hub will be managed under the new Provincial Supply Co-ordination Unit at Emergency Management B.C. in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority.

"Launching the COVID-19 Supply Hub is an important step in maintaining our supply chain and making sure essential goods and services are getting where they need to go, and fast," said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth about the initiative.

The supply hub will work in co-ordination with other provincial and federal initiatives to secure medical and other essential supplies.

On March 31, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Ottawahasinked deals withthree Canadian companiesThornhill Medical, Medicomand Spartan Bioscience to make critical medical supplies, including ventilators, surgical masks, test kits and other itemsover the coming weeks.

The federal government also has ordered close to1,570 ventilators and more than amillion COVID-19 test kits.

To see more information about what is needed in B.C. or to see if your supplies can be donated, visit theCOVID-19 Supply Hub website.

The site was created in partnership with the province, the non-profit organizationDigital Technology Supercluster and the Business Council of British Columbia and developed by local B.C. tech company Traction on Demand.