Lok Sabha Question No. 1997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Collaborative Approach with States against COVID-19
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED Q UESTION No . 1997 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH JULY, 2021

## COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WITH STATES AGAINST COVID - 19

## 1997 SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

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

- ( a) whether the Government has taken precautionary/ preventive steps to counter a global pandemic like COVID - 19;
- ( b) if so, the details thereof;
- ( c) whether the Government has assessed its current handling of the COVID - 19 pandemic and have  come  to  the  conclusion  that mismanagement/mishandling  of  the  situation  caused meteoric rise in the COVID - 19 cases in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- ( d) whether the Government has ensured a collaborative policy with the States/UTs for tackl COVID - 19; and
- ( e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  assistance  financial/otherwise  provided  to  Mah during the second wave of COVID - 19?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILIY WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e): Although Healt h is a state subject, Government of India has provided the requir technical  support  and  has  also  supported  the  states  through  logistic  and  financial  su further strengthen the existing health infrastructure to tackle COVID - 19 pandemic.

Some ofthe ongoing initiatives to further strengthen healthcare infrastructure incl

- 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 -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 estab DRDO to manage surge in COVID - 19 cases in the country. The isolation bed capacity and ICU bed capacity was also enhanced continuo usly .
- The  daily  liquid  medical  oxygen  (LMO)  supply  was  increased  by  enhancement  of  LMO production  in  steel  plants  as  well  as  in  other  LMO  plants.  Further,  restrictions  w imposed on industrial use of oxygen.
- Online  digital  solutions  viz.  Oxygen  De mand  Aggregation  system  (ODAS)  and  Oxygen Digital Tracking System (ODTS) have been developed to ascertain the demand for medica oxygen from all medical facilities and to track their transportation.
- To avoid wastage of medical oxygen, guidelines on ration al use of oxygen were issued on 25 th September 2020, and further revised and disseminated to States on 25 th April 2021.
- To  generate  oxygen  at  the  health  facility  level,  PSA  plants  are  being  established district hospitals to reduce the burden on the m dical oxygen supply grid across the country.
- Further, to fast - track the availability of Medical Oxygen in rural and peri - urban areas, more than 39,000 oxygen concentrators have been allocated to various States.
- A  COVID  Drugs  Management  Cell  (CDMC)  has been  set  up  in  the  Department  of Pharmaceuticals  (DoP)  to  oversee  the  management  of  smooth  supply  of  drugs  used  i COVID - 19 management.
- Action is initiated at the National level to augment production of critical drugs import besides support in t erms of equitable distribution of the critical supplies.
- All States/UT and State Drugs Controllers have been requested to verify stock of the and check other malpractices and take effective steps to curb hoarding and black mark of Remdesivir.
- M inistry of Health & Family Welfare continues to provide technical guidance for mana various aspects of COVID - 19. So far more than 150 guidelines/advisories/SoPs/plans have been provided to States/UTs.
- Further COVID- 19 treatment protocols and advisorie s both for adults as well as pediatric age groups were issued and widely disseminated to promote rational use of drugs and oxygen.
- During  the  F.Y.  2019 -20.  funds  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  1113.21  crore  was  released  to  th States/UTs under NHM towards management a nd containment of COVID - 19 pandemic. Of this a total of Rs. 74.21 crores were released to Maharashtra for management and co COVID - 19 during 2019 -20.
- In September 2020, the Union Government further allowed use of SDRF by the States f oxygen  generatio n  and  storage  plants  in  hospitals;  strengthening  ambulance  services transport of patients; and setting up containment zones, COVID - 19 care centres. States were allowed to spend maximum 35% of annual allocation of funds under SDRF for the financi

year2019- 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  t States/UTs towards the India COVID - 19 Emergency Response and  Health System Preparedness Package, through Agency -National Health Mission (NHM). Of these a total of Rs. 1,185.12 crores were released to Maharashtra for management and control of COVID - 19 in F.Y. 2020 - 21.
- In addition, 'India C OVID - 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 as State component). During the F.Y. 2021 - 22, Rs.123.12 Crore of Gran ts - in - Aid have been released to the State of Maharashtra.
- Under the National COVID Vaccination Program, Government of India is procuring vaccines and providing them free of cost to States and UTs. As on 25 th July 2021, a total of about 44.91  crore  doses  have  been  supplied  to  States/UTs  from  all  sources  i.e  Government India's Covid vaccine supply free of cost to all States/UTs, State/UTs and Private Hospitals procured Covid vaccine.