New Delhi: In a bid to further strengthen the health infrastructure amid a massive spike of Covid-19 cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday asked nine states to review and expedite implementation of activities under ECRP-II package for strengthening health infrastructure. The India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Phase II (ECRP-II package) of Rs 23.123 crore was approved by the union cabinet last year for the creation of paediatric units, ICU beds, setting up of field hospitals among others.
Dr Mandaviya held a review meeting with health ministers and principal secretaries as well as additional secretaries of States and UTs including J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh and reviewed the preparedness to fight the pandemic.
"With strengthened health infrastructure, we can meet any health emergency and public health crisis with better preparedness," said Dr Mandaviya. States were advised to ensure regular updation of availability, occupancy and use of infrastructure like hospital beds, PSA plants, oxygen equipment on the Covid-19 portal.
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The health minister re-emphasized the need for ramping for testing in the States and UTs. "Those states and UTs that are showing a lower share of RT PCR testing need to ramp up tests through RT PCR. States and UTs also need to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots and monitor the trend of hospitalized cases along with the deaths in the state," said Dr Mandaviya.
