Lok Sabha Question No. 3079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Testing and Treatment of COVID-19 for the Deprieved Sections
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. No 3079 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 th  AUGUST 2021

## TESTING AND TREATMENT OF COVID-19 FOR THE DEPRIVED SECTIONS

## 3079 MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:

- a) the details of policy decisions and initiatives taken by the Union and State Governments to  ensure access to testing, treatment and vaccines for COVID-19 with regard to those without ID cards, homeless people, those living in shelters, Below Poverty Line, people with disabilities, sex workers and transgender community;
- b) the outcome of such policy and initiatives; and
- c) the manner in which it has benefited the above categories of people?

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

(a)  to  (c)  Health  is  a  State  subject.  Government  of  India  has  provided  the  required  technical support  and  has  also  supported  the  states  through  logistic  and  financial  support  to  further strengthen the existing health infrastructure to tackle COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of initiatives have been taken by Union Ministry of Health to improve accessibility to COVID-19 testing to cover even the far flung and hilly areas. Starting with just one laboratory for  testing  of  samples  for  COVID-19,  the  network  of  existing  laboratories  has  been  expanded vastly to test samples for COVID-19. As of 31 st July 2021, a total of 2808 laboratories have been approved for COVID-19 Testing. Besides the Gold Standard RT-PCR (in 1717 labs), TrueNat (in 943 labs), CBNAAT (in 130 labs) techniques and other testing platform (in 18 labs) are also being  used  for  testing.  In  addition,  Rapid  Antigen  testing  is  being  utilized  for  point  of  care testing  in  containment  zones  and  in  hospital  settings.  Those  found  positive  by  this  test  are

considered as 'true positives'. Those symptomatic found negative should be sequentially tested by RT-PCR.

A  three-tier  arrangement  of  dedicated  COVID-19  health  facilities  [(i)  COVID  Care  Center (CCC);  (ii)  Dedicated  COVID  Health  Centre  (DCHC)  and  (iii)  Dedicated  COVID  Hospital (DCH)] has been implemented in the country to reduce the risk of cross infection to non-COVID patients as well as to maintain continuity of non-COVID essential health services in the country.

Government of India has roped in tertiary care hospitals under other ministries to supplement the hospital facilities. Further, many large temporary treatment facilities were established by DRDO to  manage  surge  in  COVID-19  cases  in  the  country.  The  isolation  bed  capacity  and  ICU  bed capacity was also enhanced continuously.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  continues  to  provide  technical  guidance  for  managing various aspects of COVID-19. So far more than 150 guidelines/advisories/SoPs/plans have been provided to States/UTs.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 16 th April 2021 issued a detailed SOP on COVID-19 Containment  &  Management  in  Peri-urban,  Rural  &  Tribal  areas.  The  SOP  provides  for strengthening  primary  level  healthcare  infrastructure  at  all  levels  to  intensify  COVID-19 response in peri-urban, rural & tribal areas, while continuing to provide  other essential health services  through  inter-sectoral  approach  by  involving  community-based  organizations,  Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs), Pachayati Raj institutions, Urban Local bodies, etc.

Further COVID-19 treatment protocols and advisories both for adults as well as pediatric age groups were issued and widely disseminated.

Union  Government  has  provided  financial  support  to  States/UTs  for  ramping  up  Health Infrastructure and support all aspects of management of COVID-19.

- During  the  F.Y.  2019-20.  funds  to  the  tune  of  Rs.1113.21  crore  was  released  to  the States/UTs under NHM.
- In September 2020, the Union Government allowed the states to spend maximum 35% of annual allocation of funds under SDRF for the financial year 2019-20. The ceiling was further enhanced to 50% during the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 for containment measures of COVID-19.
- During the FY 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs.8257.88 crore has been released to the States/UTs  towards  the  India  COVID-19  Emergency  Response  and  Health  System Preparedness Package.
- In  addition,  'India  COVID-19  Emergency  Response  &  Health  System  Preparedness Package: Phase-II' has also been approved by the Cabinet with Rs 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central Component & Rs 8,123 Cr as State component) and is to be

implemented from 1 st July 2021 to 31 st March 2022. So far Rs. 1827.78 crore has been released to States/UTs in 2021-22 under ECRP Phase-II in FY 2021-22.

It includes support to State/UT level for ramping up Health Infrastructure including those in  rural,  tribal  and  peri-urban  areas  closer  to  the  community,  providing  support  for procurement  of  drugs  and  diagnostics  to  enhance  service  delivery  at  district  and  sub district  levels  for  management  of  COVID-19  cases  (including  pediatric  care)  and  for maintaining  a  buffer  of  drugs,  support  for  IT  Interventions  such  as  implementation  of Hospital Management Information System and expanding access to tele-consultations in all districts, and support for capacity building and training for all aspects of management of COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing, and treatment is being provided free of cost to patients in all Government facilities. In addition, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health assurance scheme provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries). Packages for 'Testing for COVID-19'  and  'Treatment  of COVID-19'  were  also  notified on  4 th April 2020. Beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY can avail free treatment of COVID-19 as well as post-COVID related complications including Mucormycosis, etc. under the scheme.

Under the National COVID Vaccination Program, Government of India is procuring vaccines and providing them free of cost to States and UTs. As on 2 nd August 2021, a total of about 49.86 crore doses have been supplied to States/UTs from all sources i.e. Government of India's Covid vaccine supply free of cost to all States/UTs, State/UTs and Private Hospitals procured Covid vaccine.

Further, for COVID-19 vaccination additional measures have been taken by Union Ministry of Health to ensure unhindered access to vaccination by eligible population. Some of these measures include:

1. Vaccination of person without prescribed identity cards: In consideration of various groups of people who do not have any ID card/ Aadhaar number or mobile phones, Government of India  has  formulated  an  SOP  for  vaccination  of  persons  without  any  prescribed  identity cards. As per the SOP, facilitated bulk cohort registration would be possible at designated facilities  under  special  vaccination  sessions.  Such  groups  of  people  include  nomads (including  sadhu/saints  from  various  religions),  prison  inmates,  inmates  in  Mental  Health Institutions, citizens in old Age Homes, road side beggars, people residing in rehabilitation centres/camps  and  any  other  identified  eligible  persons,  aged  18  years  or  more,  and  not having any of the nine prescribed individual Photo ID Cards (Aadhaar card, Electoral Photo Identity  Card-  Voter  ID,  Passport,  Driving  License,  PAN  Card,  NPR  Smart  Card, Pension Document with Photograph, Unique Disability Identification Card, Ration card). As reported on  CoWIN,  as  on  2 nd August  2021,  a  total  of  4,49,689  doses  have  been  administered  to persons without Identity Cards.

2. Near  to  Home  COVID  Vaccination  Centers  (NHCVC)  for  Elderly  &  Differently  Abled Citizens:  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  (MoHFW),  Govt.  of  India  has  formulated SOPs related to Near to Home COVID Vaccination Centre ('NHCVC'), which have been communicated to States/ UTs via letter dated 27 th May 2021 and also uploaded on MoHFW website.

The NHCVC will be linked to an existing COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) for planning & execution of the vaccination session. These CVC will be organized especially for this target population (i.e.  all  individuals  above  60  years  of  age  and  individuals  below  60  years  with disability  due  to  physical  or  medical  conditions).  For  management  of  any  adverse  event following immunization (AEFI), an advanced life support/basic life support/transport vehicle must be stationed at the NHCVCs for transport to nearby AEFI management Centre. Further, not only is transport facility and support in this regard envisaged but support in terms of a visit on the next day after vaccination is also contemplated and provided for.

3. In some of the States, special camps are being organized for people in institutional settings (e.g. prisons) for providing COVID-19 vaccination services.

As on 2 nd August 2021, a total of 47,22,23,639 first doses of COVID vaccine has been given in the country, while a total of 10,42,29,053 persons have received both doses of the vaccine.