Lok Sabha Question No. 2278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Exclusive COVID-19 treatment and care blocks
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar, Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUE STION NO. 2278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## EXCLUSIVE COVID - 19 TREATMENT AND CAR E BLOCKS

## 2278. SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARAS AR SU: DR. T. SUMATHY ( a) THAMIZHACHI THANGA PANDIAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has any plans to start exclusive COVID - 19  treatment and care blocks in States Like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu where large numbers of people got infected by COVID - 19 and their number is increasing manifold;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the effective steps taken by the Government to provide funds and medical equipment for COVID - 19 care management;
- (d) whether the Government has anticipated and is ready for the second wave of COVID - 19 during the winter months in India; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the decision taken both by the Centre and State Governments in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e) For appropriate management of COVID - 19 cases, Government of India has advised State governments to setup a three - tier arrangement of health facilities exclusively for COVID. These are (i) COVID Care Center with isolation beds for mild or pre - symptomatic cases; (ii) Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) with oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases and (iii) Dedicated COVID H ospital (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases. These DCHCs or  DCH  may  be  a  full  hospital  or  a  separate  block  in  a  hospital  with  preferably  s entry/exit/zoning.

In addition, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has set up large dedica ted COVID- 19 field hospitals with capacities ranging from 1000 to 10,000 isolation These temporary hospitals have been set up in Delhi, Bihar (Patna and Muzaffarpur). All including  Maharashtra  and  Tamil  Nadu  have  accordingly  taken  action  to  cr eate such infrastructure.

Hospital infrastructure in the country for managing - 19  COVID cases is being continuously  monitored  by  Government  of  India.  States  have  been  advised  to  prepare requisite  surge  capacities  to  manage  cases,  in  accordance  with  exis ting  and  projected  growth rates.

States/UTs are being provided required technical and financial assistance for man the  COVID- 19  public  health  challenge.  Public  Health  &  Hospitals  being  a  State  subject, primary  responsibility  of  strengthening  of  he althcare  system  lies  with  respective  State Government.

All the States/UTs are provided with necessary financial support under India COVID - 19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package. During FY 2020 - 21, funds of Rs 4256.81 crore have been r eleased to the States/ UTs.

In addition, States are being supported in terms of supply of logistics. So far 1. of  PPE  Kits,  3.45  crores  N - 95  masks,  10.84  crore  tablets  of  Hydroxychloroquine,  30,841 ventilators and 1,02,400 oxygen cylinders have b een supplied to States/UTs/ Central Government hospitals so far (as reported on 20 th September, 2020).

Pandemics  caused  by  a  new  virus  have  the  propensity  to  infect  human  population multiple waves, each time affecting a cohort of susceptible population. Some countries, which had  initially  successfully  contained  the  COVID - 19  outbreak  earlier  are  now  reporting  a resurgence  of  cases.  Government  of  India  has  advised  States  accordingly  to  upgrade  h infrastructure based on the case growth trajectory in re spective States/districts, besides taking stringent containment measures.