SC-appointed task force holds 1st meeting

New Delhi, May 9

The first meeting of the 12-member National Task Force set up by the Supreme Court to ensure the delivery of medical oxygen throughout the country in a streamlined manner, was held on Sunday, sources said.

The National Task Force members include Bhabatosh Biswas, former VC of West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata; Devender Singh Rana, chairperson of Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi; Devi Prasad Shetty, chairperson and executive director of Narayana Healthcare in Bengaluru and Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, among others.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Union Secretary (MoRTH) Giridhar Aramane were present at the meeting. According to the directions of the Supreme Court, few experts can be co-opted in the team. Accordingly, VK Paul, member (Health), NITI Aayog; Randeep Guleria, director AIIMS, New Delhi; Balram Bhargava, DG-ICMR and Secretary (DHR); and Sunil Kumar, DGHS, Ministry of Health, were present as special invitees.

All members of the National Task Force commended the significant amount of work done by various ministries and departments of the Government of India in augmenting oxygen production capacities as well as in ensuring its efficient distribution. The members also provided specific suggestions for further increasing oxygen production and availability. The National Task Force decided to continue its deliberations to arrive at specific recommendations. PTI