- Safe care is fundamental and then access to protective equipment becomes crucial. We have seen a number of reports in Sweden as well as in the rest of the world about lack of protective equipment, says Business Minister Ibrahim Baylan (S).

During the press conference he gave several examples of how the shortage revealed major problems, not least in EU cooperation. Protective equipment was covered by export bans and, in practice, seized during transport, while countries bid on each other in pursuit of desirable products such as visors and respiratory protection of various kinds.

In mid-March, the government held meetings with a number of Swedish companies to find out if they had the opportunity to produce any of what care so desperately needed.

Quick approval

Almost a month later, Essity is ready to deliver surgeon masks through an agreement that is being finalized with the National Board of Health and Welfare. The masks are manufactured in the factory outside Gothenburg.

- We will be able to deliver three million a month and donate the first million. Later we will change further to be able to manufacture up to 30 million protective masks, says the company's CEO Magnus Groth.

Essity normally manufactures diapers, toilet paper and wound care products. This rapid change has been possible through close cooperation with the state research institute Rise, which controls quality personal protective equipment.

"We hope that other companies will contact us so that we can quickly verify equipment for the healthcare system," says Pia Sandvik, CEO of Rise.