Lok Sabha Question No. 658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Reducing the Risk of Third Wave of Pandemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 658 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th  FEBRUARY, 2022

## REDUCING THE RISK OF THIRD WAVE OF PANDEMIC

## 658   SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has set up any mechanism and has conducted a study in consultation with the experts to reduce the risk of third wave of pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  States/UTs  particularly Madhya Pradesh, for allocation of funds for development of medical infrastructure to tackle the third wave; and
- (d) if so, the details and the present status thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) & (b) Government of India continues to keep a close watch over COVID-19 situation in  the  country  against  COVID-19  to  prevent  and  mitigate  the  impact  of  any  resurgence  of COVID-19 trajectory in the country.

Government  of  India  has  also  established  an  Indian  SARS-CoV-2  Genomic  Surveillance Consortium (INSACOG) for genomic sequencing and tracking the evolution of variant strains of SARS-CoV-2.

Also, Government of India is supporting States in their endeavor to manage COVID-19 since the beginning of pandemic. Given the emergence of mutated variants with variable impact on transmissibility, virulence and effectiveness of vaccines, likelihood of resurgence of COVID19 trajectory in the country is monitored by various expert committees under Indian Council of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services and other relevant Ministries/Departments. Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare continues to keep a close watch over COVID-19 situation across the country and globally.

Besides  regular  review  meetings  at  the  level  of  Union  Health  Minister  with  all  relevant stakeholders  including  subject  experts,  review  meetings  with  States/UTs  through  video conferencing have been conducted under Union Health Minister and senior officials of Health Ministry to review preparedness and response measures for COVID-19 pandemic. States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  have  been  repeatedly  urged  to  undertake  the  following activities:

-  Strict monitoring of International travelers in the community.
-  Contact tracing of positive individuals & follow up for 14 days. Genome sequencing of positive samples through INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner.
-  Continued monitoring of areas where cluster of positive cases emerges.
-  Further strengthening of COVID-19 testing infrastructure and ensuring early identification of cases through adequate testing across the States. Ensuring preparedness  of  health  infrastructure  (availability  of  ICU,  oxygen  supported  beds, ventilators, etc.) and upgrading health infrastructure under 'India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness-Phase II' (ECRP-II) including in rural areas and for pediatric cases.
-  Commissioning PSA plants, ensuring sufficient logistics, drugs etc.
-  Ensuring COVID-19 vaccination for the eligible population including coverage among young adolescents (15-18 years) and precaution dose for health care workers, frontline workers and elderly with comorbidities.
-  Ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) vide letter dated 28 th June 2021 has circulated to  all  States/UTs  guiding  principles  for  imposition  of  restrictions  or  allowing  relaxation  in context  of  COVID-19  based  on  COVID-19  testing  confirmation  rates  and  hospital  bed occupancy  rates.  This  has  been  reiterated  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  under  Disaster Management Act, 2005 vide order dated 29 th June 2021.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  continues  to  provide  technical  guidance  for  managing various  aspects  of  COVID-19.  To  disseminate  various  clinical  guidelines  for  appropriate management of cases, a series of webinars were held under MoHFW's Center of Excellence initiative for all State Level Centers of Excellence and district level public and private COVID health facilities in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi and Indian Medical Association.

Union  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  continues  to  provide  support  to  States/UTs  to enhance preparedness and response capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies.  Funding  support  is  also  provided  to  States/UTs  through  National  Health Mission, State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) and Emergency COVID-19 Response and Preparedness packages. Under ECRP Phase II, a package of Rs. 23,123 crores has been approved  to  upgrade  health  infrastructure  including  maintaining  buffer  stock  of  essential drugs.

(c)  &  (d)                    The  proposals  are  received  from  States/UTs  under  'India  COVID-19 Emergency  Response  and  Health  System  Preparedness-Phase  II'  (ECRP-II)  and  Prime Minister- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). Under PM-ABHIM is one of the largest Pan-India scheme for public health infrastructure to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance and health research, spanning both urban and rural areas so that the  communities  are  Atmanirbhar  in  managing  such  pandemic/health  crises.  The  State  of Madhya Pradesh has received an approval of Rs. 125.26 Crore against the proposed amount of Rs. 125.26 Crore.

ECRP-II is aimed to prevent, detect and respond to the continuing threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national health systems for preparedness in India. Support is provided to the States/UTs for provision for establishing District Paediatric Units (including Oxygen Supported beds and ICU beds) in all the Districts of the Country. Besides, support is also provided to increase  the  availability  of  ICU  beds  in  Government  health  facilities  and  to  create  pre  fabricated structures for augmenting beds at Sub Health Centres, Primary Health Centres & Community Health Centres in rural, peri-urban and tribal areas. In addition, the support for maintaining the buffer stock for essential medicines required for effective COVID management; establishing field hospitals (100 bedded or 50 bedded units) wherever required and  strengthening  district  level  laboratories  for  RT-PCR  testing.  The  states  have  been supported  for  utilization  of  the  Under-Graduate  and  Post-Graduate  Residents,  Final  Year MBBS, BSc and GNM Nursing students for effective COVID-19 management. The package is implemented  from  1 st July  2021  to  31 st March  2022.  The  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh  has received  an  approval  of  Rs.  1447.50  Crore  against  the  proposed  amount  of  Rs.  1735.27 Crore.

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