The Prime Minister reiterated the need to ‘Test, Track and Treat’ and said that there’s no substitute for the same. He also urged the district-level administrations to be more proactive.
On Saturday, PM Modi chaired a review meeting with top officials to take stock of the unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases. The meeting was attended by the Union Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Union Home Secretary, Union Health Secretary, Pharma secretary, and Dr. VK Paul of the Niti Aayog. Other pressing issues discussed included vaccine shortage, lack of beds, oxygen, ventilators, and Remdesivir.
The Prime Minister reiterated the need to ‘Test, Track and Treat’ and said that there’s no substitute for the same. He also urged the district-level administrations to be more proactive and be more sensitive to the concerns of the people.
PM Modi directed the officials to ramp up vaccine production and utilize the entire national stock in both, private and public sectors. He also warned against the black marketing of Remdesivir and other medicines and said that their use must be in accordance with ‘approved medical guidelines’
The Prime Minister directed that additional supply of beds through temporary hospitals and isolation centers should be ensured.
Reviewed preparedness to handle the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Aspects relating to medicines, oxygen, ventilators and vaccination were discussed. Like we did last year, we will successfully fight COVID with even greater speed and coordination. https://t.co/cxhTxLtxJa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2021
In a bid to address the recently surfaced reports of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray not being able to get in touch with PM Modi for lack of oxygen and medicine supply, owing to the latter’s election commitments, he asked the health officials to have closer coordination with the states in handling this second wave.
As per a statement released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Prime Minister addressed the issue of lack of oxygen and directed that the installation of approved medical oxygen plants should be sped up. 162 PSA Oxygen plants are being installed in 32 States/UTs from PM CARES.
Also Read: “Keep Kumbh Symbolic In Wake Of Covid Crisis”: PM Modi
The officers informed that 1 lakh cylinders are being procured & they will be supplied to states soon. The officers briefed the PM that they are in constant supply with 12 high burden states in assessing the current and future requirement of medical oxygen.
A supply mapping plan for 12 high burden states till 30th April has also been undertaken. PM Modi also said that the supply of oxygen required for the production of medicines and equipment necessary to handle the pandemic should also be ensured.
India recorded a massive spike of 2,61,500 cases, 1501 deaths on Sunday and breached the 18 lakh mark of active cases.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
