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NEW DELHI: In a move to ensure optimum utilisation of the Rs 23,123 crore emergency response fund recently approved by the Centre to deal with Covid-19, the health ministry has asked states to conduct a quick gap analysis for various infrastructure components, while maintaining focus on ramping up test, track, treat and isolate strategy.
In a review meeting with states and UTs to implement the scheme, the health ministry underlined the need for governments to scale-up bed strength including for paediatric care and makeshift hospitals in sub-district levels. States and UTs have also been asked to send their expenditure proposals at the earliest to enable expeditious approval and sanctioning of funds from the Centre.
The move also assumes significance in the wake of a looming fear of third wave, mainly in rural and remote areas that are more vulnerable to the infection.
The ‘India Covid-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management with sharp focus on health infrastructure development.
The scheme has two components – the central sector and centrally sponsored schemes. The central sector component will include support for infrastructure expansion at Centre-run hospitals, strengthen the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) and INSACOG. Under the CSS component, the effort will be aimed at strengthening district and sub district capacity for an effective and rapid response to the pandemic. Of the total fund outlay, Rs 15,000 crore would be contributed by the Centre and Rs 8,123 crore by the states.
In the meeting stakeholders were also asked to ensure availability of critical drugs, testing kits and PPEs besides enhancing oxygen availability.
In a review meeting with states and UTs to implement the scheme, the health ministry underlined the need for governments to scale-up bed strength including for paediatric care and makeshift hospitals in sub-district levels. States and UTs have also been asked to send their expenditure proposals at the earliest to enable expeditious approval and sanctioning of funds from the Centre.
The move also assumes significance in the wake of a looming fear of third wave, mainly in rural and remote areas that are more vulnerable to the infection.
The ‘India Covid-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management with sharp focus on health infrastructure development.
The scheme has two components – the central sector and centrally sponsored schemes. The central sector component will include support for infrastructure expansion at Centre-run hospitals, strengthen the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) and INSACOG. Under the CSS component, the effort will be aimed at strengthening district and sub district capacity for an effective and rapid response to the pandemic. Of the total fund outlay, Rs 15,000 crore would be contributed by the Centre and Rs 8,123 crore by the states.
In the meeting stakeholders were also asked to ensure availability of critical drugs, testing kits and PPEs besides enhancing oxygen availability.
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