Covid fund
“Discussions also included how to ensure adequate supply of personal protection equipment (PPE), N-95 masks and ventilators i n al l s t at es. A detailed discussion was also held among the group of ministers on the existing lab strategy, especially how to increase sampling in hot spots and clusters,” said the ministry’s joint secretary, Lav Agarwal, during a media briefing.
He also informed that the supplies have started coming in for orders that were placed earlier.
“We had placed orders for 1.74 crore PPE and about 49,000 ventilators earlier; the supplies are coming in and will soon be deployed in field. However, the Centre has always reiterated that there is a need for rational use of PPE, and guidelines in this regard have been issued in detail. PPE is usually recommended on the basis of risk profile wherein all components such as boots, masks, coveralls, gloves, goggles, etc, are needed for people deployed in high risk areas,” said Agarwal.
Along with other central government ministries, the railway ministry has also pitched in by offering to convert 5,000 coaches into isolation facilities that would give 80,000 additional beds. Of these, 3,250 coaches have been already converted into isolation facilities.
“The Railway has also earmarked and deployed at least 2,500 doctors, 35,000 paramedics, 586 health bunits, 45 sub-divisional hospitals, 56 divisional hospitals, 8 production unit hospitals and 16 zonal hospitals,” he said.
Earlier, i n a l et t er t o t he addional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and commissioners (health) of all states and Uts on Thursday, the health ministry said the 100% centrally funded package will be implemented in three phases from January 2020 to March 2024.
According to the letter, the health ministry is releasing funds for states and UTS under the National Health Mission for implementation of phase 1 up to June 2020.
“The key acti vit i es t o be implemented under Phase 1 include support to states and UTS for development of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, isolation blocks, ICUS with ventilators oxygen supply in hospitals, strengthening of laboratories, hiring of additional human resources and incentives to human resource and community health volunteers,” the lett e r added. I t al s o i ncludes strengthening of identified laboratories and expansion of diagnostic capacities and mobility support for sample transport.
The ministry has also asked states and Union territories to use the funds for the procurement of personal protective equipment, N-95 masks and ventilators over and above what is being procured and supplied by the central government.
The activities to be undertaken also include disinfection of hospitals, government offices, public utilities and ambulances, the letter said.
The project will be implemented in three phases during t he period January 2020 t o March 2024 -- Phase 1 from January to June 2020, phase 2 from July to March 2021 and phase 3 from April 2021 to March 2024.