Health infrastructures in NEIGRIHMS here will see major changes as the institute has been selected for a new scheme known as ‘India Covid-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ to augment the existing response to the second Covid-19 wave and the evolving pandemic.
The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today has approved a new scheme ‘India Covid-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ amounting to Rs. 23,123 crore for Financial Year 2021-22.
This scheme aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with the focus on health infrastructure development including for pediatric care and with measurable outcomes.
The Phase-II of the Package has Central Sector (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) components.
India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project: Phase-II would be implemented at a total cost of Rs 23,123 crore from July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. The Central Share of the project is Rs15, 000 crore while the State Share is Rs 8,123 crore.
Under the Central Sector components, support would be provided to Central government hospitals, AIIMS, and other institutions of national importance under the Health Ministry.
Besides NEIGRIHMS, other health institutions that will be benefited under Central Sector components are Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College & SSKH, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (all in Delhi), Regional Institute of Medical Science (Imphal), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (Chandigarh), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (Puducherry), AIIMS (Delhi) existing AIIMSs and new AIIMSs under PMSSY for repurposing 6,688 beds for Covid management.
Support would be provided for implementation of the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) in all the district hospitals of the country through NIC developed E-Hospital and CDAC developed E-Shushrut software. This support includes the support provided to the district hospitals towards augmentation of the hardware capacity.
Meanwhile, under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, states and union territories would be supported to create pediatric units in all 736 districts and also to establish Pediatric Centre of Excellence in each state and union territory either in medical colleges, State government hospitals or Central government hospitals for providing tele-ICU services and technical hand-holding to the district pediatric units.
20,000 ICU beds will be augmented in public healthcare system out of which 20 per cent will be Pediatric ICU beds, creation of prefabricated structures for adding additional beds at the existing CHCs, PHCs and SHCs (6-20 bedded units) and support would also be provided to establish bigger field hospitals (50-100 bedded units) depending on the needs at Tier-II or Tier-III cities and district headquarters.
Besides installation of Liquid Medical Oxygen storage tanks with Medical Gas Pipeline System (MGPS) in at least every district, 8,800 ambulances will be added under the package. Essential medicines for Covid-19 management, including creation of buffer stock will also be provided under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
