New Delhi: In a step to ensure optimal utilization of RS 23,123 Crore Emergency Response Funds are recently approved by the center to deal with Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has asked the state to conduct a rapid gap analysis for various infrastructure components, by maintaining focus , On the test, track, treat, and isolate the strategy.
In a meeting review with the state and UTS to implement the scheme, the Ministry of Health underlines the need for the government to increase the strength of beds including children and emergency hospital care at the sub-district level.
The country and UTS are also asked to send their earliest expenditure proposals to enable funding and fund sanctions from the center.
This step also assumes significance after fear that lines against the third wave, especially in rural and remote areas that are more susceptible to infection.
The ‘Indian Emergency Response Package Covid-19 Emergency & Health System: Phase-II’ aims to accelerate health system preparedness for direct responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management with a sharp focus on health infrastructure development.
This scheme has two central sectors and centrally sponsored schemes.
The central sector component will include support for infrastructure expansion in the central managed hospital, strengthening the National Disease Control Center (NCDC), epidemic intelligence services (EIS) and Insacog.
Under CSS components, efforts will be aimed at strengthening the capacity of districts and sub-districts for effective and rapid responses to pandemics.
Of the total expenditure of funds, the RS 15,000 Crore will be contributed by the Center and Rs 8,123 Crore by countries.
In stakeholder meetings are also asked to ensure the availability of critical drugs, testing kits and PPE in addition to increasing the availability of oxygen.
Use RS 23,123 Crore Emergency Funds to plug in infra gaps, say
