The government of India on Wednesday, 8 April approved a centrally funded "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package" aiming at strengthening national and state health systems.
As per GOI, the project will be divided into three phases between January 2020 to March 2024.
A circular signed by Vandana Gurnani National Health Mission Director says,
This circular is addressed to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and commissioners (Health) of all states/union territories in India.
It further adds, "The MoHFW is releasing funds (as indicated in annexure) under the immediate response of this Package for your States/UT under the National Health Mission for implementation of phase 1 up to June 2020."
The key activities to be implemented under Phase -1 includes:
Support to states/UTs for the development of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and other hospitals, Isolation blocks, negative pressure isolation rooms, ICUs with ventilators, oxygen supply in hospitals, strengthening of laboratories in hospitals, hiring of additional human resources and incentives to human resource and community health volunteers.
Procurement of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), N95 masks and ventilators, over and above what is being procured and supplied by the Government of India.
Strengthening of identified laboratories and expansion of diagnostics, capacities
Outreach, survey and community surveillance activities including
mobility support fon the same and training and orientation of health workers and volunteers
Disinfection of hospitals, government ambulances, etc.
The three phases of the project are:
Phase-1 from January 2020 to June 2020
Phase-2 from July 2020 to March 2021
Phase-3 from April 2021 to March 2024
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)