Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 17, 2021, chaired a meeting to review the status of preparedness to handle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Various aspects relating to medicine, oxygen, ventilators and vaccination were discussed on the occasion. The Prime Minister said that together India had defeated Covid last year and India can do it again with the same principles but faster speed and coordination.
The PM stressed that there is no substitute to testing, tracking and treatment. Early testing and proper tracking remains key to reduce mortality. He also said that local administrations need to be proactive and sensitive to people’s concerns.He said that close coordination with States must be ensured in handling the pandemic. He said that all necessary measures must be taken to ramp up the availability of hospital beds for Covid patients. The Prime Minister also directed that additional supply of beds through temporary hospitals and isolation centres should be ensured, according to a PIB release.
PM Modi spoke about the need to utilise the full potential of India’s pharmaceutical industry to meet the rising demand of various medicine. He reviewed the status of supply of Remdesivir and other medicine. He was briefed on actions taken to address the issue of availability of Remdesivir. Through the efforts of the Government, capacity and production augmentation for manufacturing of Remdesivir has been ramped up to provide around 74.10 lakh vials/month in May while the normal production output in January-February was just 27-29 lakh vials/month. Supplies have also increased from 67,900 vials on April 11, 2021, going up to over 2,06,000 vials on April 15, 2021, which are particularly focused on states with high caseload and high demand.
The PM took note of the ramped up production capacity, and directed that issues relating to real-time supply chain management to States must be resolved urgently in coordination with them. He directed that use of Remdesivir and other medicins must be in accordance with approved medical guidelines, and that their misuse and black marketing must be strictly curbed.
On the issue of supply of medical oxygen, the Prime Minister 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. The officers informed that 1 lakh cylinders are being procured and 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 April 30,2021, has also been undertaken. The PM also said that supply of oxygen required for production of medicine and equipment necessary to handle the pandemic should also be ensured.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the status of availability and supply of ventilators. He noted that a real time monitoring system has been created and directed that the State governments concerned should be sensitised to use the system proactively, according to a PIB release.
On the issue of vaccination, the PMr directed all officials to make efforts to utilise the entire national capacity, in public as well as private sector, to ramp up vaccine production.