Lok Sabha Question No. 4446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Vaccine Research on Coronavirus
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee, Hema Malini, Parvesh Sahib Singh, Kirron  Kher

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2020

## VACCINE RESEARCH ON CORONAVIRUS

## 4446. MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI: SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA: SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that India's average overall global health security score is very low compared to severa l developing countries, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  China  and  other  countries  are  conducting research  for  developing  medicine  or vaccine for Coronavirus, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has signed or proposes t sign bilateral or multilateral agreement with other countries to find vaccine/drugs to prevent COVID - 19,if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the supply of basic medicines is not affected by the spread of COVID - 19 in China and other countries; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to distribute free masks to the people and curb hoarding of masks,if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) : As  per  index  of  average  overall  global  health  security  score  2019,  India  has classified as 'more prepared'.
- (b) &(c): On  30  January  2020,  following  the  recommendations  of  the  Emergency Committee,  the  World Health  Organization  (WHO)  Director -General  declared  that  the  Novel Coronavirus  (COVID - 19)  outbreak  constitutes  a  Public  Health  Emergency  of  Internationa Concern  (PHEIC).  Subsequently.  world  scientists  on  COVID - 19  met  at  the  World  Health Organization's Ge neva headquarters from 11 to 12 February 2020 to assess the current level knowledge about the new virus, agree on critical research questions that need to be an urgently, and ways to work together to accelerate and fund priority research that can contribute to curtail this outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks.

(d) : Government is regularly reviewing the situation to ensure adequate supplies of medi to the patients.

(e) : In view the recent outbreak of COVID - 19  and  concern of the logisti cs for COVID - 19 management particularly during the recent past and that masks (2 ply & 3 ply surgical N95 masks)  and hand sanitizers have been noted to be either not available with most o vendors in the market or are available with great diffic ulty at exorbitant prices, Government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities (ECs) Act, 1955 to declare these ite Essential  Commodities  up  to  30 th June,  2020  by  amending  the  Schedule  of  the  Essential Commodities  Act,  1955.  Central  Gover nment  has  also  issued  an  advisory  under  the  Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

Under the Essential Commodities Act, after discussions with the manufacturers, St can  ask  them  to  enhance  their  production  capacity  of  these  items  to  make  the  supply smooth, while under the Legal Metrology Act, the States can ensure sale of both the items at the maxim retail price (MRP).

The States may take action against the offenders under the EC Act. An offender under EC Act may be punished with an imprisonment upto 7 years or fine or both. The decision wo empower the Government and States to regulate production, quality, distribution etc. of mask ply  &  3  ply  surgical  masks,  N95  masks)  and  hand  sanitizers  and  to  smoothen  the  sale availability  of  these  items  and  carry  out  operations  against  orders  speculators  etc. inv olved in over pricing, black - marketing etc. It will enhance the availability of both the item the general people at reasonable prices or under MRP.

The States are also advised to give publicity of State Helplines for registering co by the con sumers of the above two items. The consumers may also register their complaints this  matter  with  the  National  Consumer  Helpline  No.  1800 - 11- 4000,  Online  Complaints: www.consumerhelpline.gov.in,  Department's  Website www.consumeraffairs.nic.in , dsadminca@nic.in and dirwm- ca@nic.in secy.doca@gov.in .