India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package

The Union Cabinet recently approved investments worth 15,000 crore INR for the ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’.

About the Package

The India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package is a support package for providing funds on a mission mode to help mount an urgent response to the COVID-19 crisis. The funds are to be sanctioned in 3 phases. For immediate response, 7,774 crore INR has been provisioned and the remaining have been allocated for medium term support (1 to 4 years).

Objectives

  • Development of diagnostics and treatment facilities for COVID-19.
  • Centralized procurement of drugs and essential medical equipment.
  • Strengthening of health system to prevent and prepare for future outbreaks.
  • Establishment of labs.
  • Bolstering surveillance activities.
  • Improve bio-security preparedness.
  • Bolster pandemic research.
  • Proactively engage communities.
  • Conduct risk communication activities.

Phase I

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with other ministries have already taken the following steps under the first phase:

  • Additional funds worth 3,000 crore INR have been released to the states and UTs for strengthening health facilities.
  • Hotspots have been identified and containment is being implemented.
  • Diagnostic lab networks have been expanded and the focus is on increasing the testing capacity.
  • Healthcare workers have been covered with insurance under ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19’.
  • Central procurement of PPE, ventilators, drugs and testing kits.

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