Cabinet nod to Rs 15,000-crore COVID-19 fund; to be spent in 3 phases

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, April 22

The government on Wednesday approved Rs 15,000 crore for “India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package”, which will be utilised in three phases. It, however, has made provision of Rs 7,774 crore for immediate emergency response in its fight against coronavirus outbreak.

In an official statement, the government said the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the rest of the amount will be used for medium-term support for the next 1-4 years, which will be provided under the mission mode approach.

“The key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit COVID-19 in India through the development of diagnostics and COVID-dedicated treatment facilities, centralised procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs required for treatment of infected patients, strengthen and build resilient National and State health systems to support prevention and preparedness for future disease outbreaks, setting up of laboratories and bolster surveillance activities, biosecurity preparedness, pandemic research and proactively engage communities and conduct risk communication activities,” the statement read.

These interventions and initiatives would be implemented under the overall umbrella of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it said, adding that in phase 1, the health ministry with the support of all the other ministries has already undertaken several activities.

Additional fund to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore is released under the package to states and UTs, for strengthening of existing health facilities as COVID Dedicated Hospitals, Dedicated COVID Health Centres and Dedicated COVID Care Centers.

“Detailed guidelines, protocols and advisory for quarantine, isolation, testing, treatment, disease containment, decontamination, social distancing and surveillance have already been made, as identification of hotspots and appropriate containment strategies are also in full swing,” it said.