New Delhi, Apr 4 (IANS): The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Safdarjung Hospital, here on Saturday, denied shortage of protective gear and masks in the hospital.

Speaking to IANS over phone, Dr Manish, Safdarjung RDA President, said, "We have adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs) at the hospital for healthcare workers."

Shortage of protective gears were reported in the media citing a RDA circular that claimed the hospital, a nodal facility for treatment in the national capital that had been converted into a Covid-19 centre recently, required N95 masks and other protective gear for doctors and other staff.

On the circular, Manish said, "It was for non-profit organisations that had shown interest in donating masks and protective gear. To facilitate that the circular had been issued."

The circular read: "This is to draw your kind attention that we, the resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital along with other healthcare workers, are battling the Covid-19 pandemic. Safdarjung Hospital is the nodal centre for treatment, isolation and quarantining Covid-19 patients in Delhi."

"We have approx 500 faculty members, 1,700 resident doctors and 2,000 nursing staff. Also, the 807-bed super speciality block (SSB) has recently been converted into the Covid-19 block. The administration is trying its best to procure protective equipment and consumables, but the demand is surpassing the supply," the circular read.