PM directs officials to ensure sufficiency of essential medical equipment
With allegations about shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers being levelled on social media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (April 4) chaired a meeting of empowered groups set up to respond to the COVID-19 threat.
During the meeting, Modi reviewed the nationwide preparedness to tackle the disease, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a tweet. He also directed officials to ensure sufficiency of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves and ventilators.
PM @narendramodi reviewed countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 4, 2020
Last Sunday, the government constituted 11 empowered groups to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people as quickly as possible post the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
These groups are empowered to identify problem areas and provide effective solutions, delineate policy, formulate plans, strategise operations and take all necessary steps for effective and time-bound implementation of plans, strategies or decisions in their respective areas, a notification issued by Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla had said.
Out of these 11 empowered groups, nine are headed by secretary-level officers, one by a NITI Aayog member and one by the NITI Aayog CEO.
Related News: PM-CARES dips into MPs’ funds meant for states, leaves them high and dry
The groups that were constituted include empowered group on medical equipment and management plan, empowered group on availability of hospitals, empowered group on essential drugs, medical equipment, empowered group on augmenting human resources by MSME and empowered group on facilitating supply chain and logistics management.
Besides them, the empowered group on coordinating with private sector NGOs and international organisations, empowered group on public grievances and suggestions, empowered group on public awareness, empowered group on technology, empowered group on strategic issues relating to lockdown and empowered group on economy and welfare, have been set up.
