THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
(DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
(a) to (e) Presently, as reported by States a declining trend in COVID-19 cases and deaths is noted since last few months. However, as the causative virus is continuously evolving, the same may have an impact on COVID-19 transmission and surge in cases cannot be ruled out. Accordingly, Union Ministry of continues to keep a close watch over COVID-19 situation in the country and globally. States/UTs have been urged repeatedly through formal communications as well as during regular video conferences to continue focus on five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-COVID appropriate behaviors and vaccination.
Health is a state subject. Government of India is supporting states in their endeavor to manage COVID-19 since the beginning of pandemic. Requisite support is provided to States/UTs to enhance preparedness and response capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. Various initiatives have been undertaken by the Government to provide technical guidance and further strengthen health infrastructure, availability of essential logistics including drugs and medical oxygen supply to manage COVID-19. Some of the major areas of intervention include:
• Ministry of Health & FW has implemented 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.
• 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.
• Guidelines on Clinical management of COVID-19 continues to be updated with emerging scientific evidence. The treatment protocol for adults was last updated on 24.05.2021 and has been widely circulated.
• Guidelines for management of COVID-19 in children was issued on 18th June 2021. The guideline covers guidance on management of acute presentation of COVID-19 as well as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) in children and adolescents found temporally related to COVID-19.
• Guidelines and checklists on prevention and clinical management of Mucormycosis was disseminated to all States/UTs.
• A Comprehensive Guidelines for Management of Post-Covid Sequelae was issued by MoHFW on 21st October 2021 after expert consultations to guide doctors on post-COVID-19 complications and their management.
• To further provide on-field assistance to the States/UTs, a total of 170 Central multi-disciplinary team comprising of epidemiologists, clinicians, microbiologists and senior officials from the Ministry have been deployed to States/Districts reporting increased trajectory of cases.
• States are supported in terms of supply of logistics which includes PPE Kits, N-95 masks, ventilators and drugs like Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir etc.
• States have been supported with supply of oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators. States are also supported in terms of installation of Oxygen concentrator plants/ PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption plants) plants. All the States have been advised rational use of oxygen and to prohibit the wasteful usage by strict monitoring. States have also been advised to undertake oxygen consumption audit in hospitals including private hospitals and to undertake facility-wise/hospital-wise oxygen inventory mapping and advance planning for timely replenishment so that there is no stock out.
• As on 7th December 2021, under National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, a total of 128.76 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country, out of which 80.27 crore (85.5% of adult population) are 1st dose and 48.49 crore (51.6% of the eligible population) are 2nd dose. Adequate doses to vaccinate all eligible 1st dose and due 2nd dose beneficiaries aged 18 years and above by December 2021 have been made available to State/UTs.
Funding support is also provided to States/UTs through various avenues:
• During the F.Y. 2019-20. funds to the tune of Rs.1113.21 crore was released to the States/UTs under NHM towards management and containment of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Since September 2020, the Union Government has allowed use of State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) for various COVID-19 related activities.
• 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. This provided support to States for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network, surveillance and contact tracing, procurement of PPEs, N-95 masks, ventilators etc. Of this Rs. 386.37 Crore have been released to State Government of Telangana.
• 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 implemented from 1st July 2021. This 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 (HMIS) and expanding access to tele-consultations in all districts, and support for capacity building and training for all aspects of management of COVID-19. A total of Rs. 149.34 crore released for the State of Telangana so far.
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