Use 30% Funds Of District Planning Committee For COVID Prevention Measures: Ajit Pawar

Mrunal Jadhav

Mumbai, 12th April 2021: To make the fight against the Covid-19 crisis more effective, 30 percent of the funds of the district planning committee will be allowed to be used for Covid prevention measures. The Remdesivir injection will be delivered directly to hospitals through distributors, not through retailers. The next fortnight is crucial in the fight against Covid-19, during which time the provision of beds, ventilators, oxygen, Remdesivir etc. to the patients should be carried out on a war footing, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said today.

He also announced that the departmental commissioners would be empowered to approve the cost of facilities in the acquired private hospitals to intensify the fight against Covid.

A meeting was held at the Mantralaya in Mumbai today under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to review the state of Covid situation and preventive measures in the state. The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Minister of State Rajendra Patil Yadravarkar (both via VC), Minister of State Prajakt Tanpure, Additional Chief Secretary for Finance Manoj Sounik, Additional Chief Secretary for Planning Debashish Mukherjee and Health Secretary Pradeep Vyas.

After reviewing the situation in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the number of Covid cases in the state has been increasing in the last few days. This growing number of patients is putting a strain on the health system. Yet the whole system is working on a war footing. The number of beds required for treatment is being increased. Beds in private hospitals have been acquired by the government. Efforts to improve oxygen supply are underway.

In order to meet the oxygen requirement of the hospitals, oxygen plants, liquid oxygen plants, oxygen-producing plants from the air should be installed as per the need and availability. For this, funds should be made available from the National Health Mission, Public Health Department, State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), District Planning Scheme. The Deputy Chief Minister also directed that funds should be provided to the Municipal Corporations and Municipalities for electricity and gas right under the Maharashtra Nagarothana Yojana and District Planning Yojana.

The meeting also decided to allow 30 percent of the funds from the district planning committee to be spent in phases for the fight against Covid-19. The Collector has been given the power to control the distribution of Remdesivir injections which are useful for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Their retail sales have been banned to prevent malpractice in the sale of Remdesivir injections. These drugs will be delivered directly to hospitals through distributors.

Pawar also directed to prepare appropriate regulations regarding the use of Remdesivir injection. In view of the increasing number of Covid infected patients, the administration has acquired beds in private hospitals to treat Covid patients. The Divisional Commissioners will be empowered to spend the funds required for the procurement of machinery and equipment required for the private hospitals acquired by the Government.

In the meeting, Pawar directed to provide necessary treatment and necessary machinery and equipment to the Covid patients in the state.