Coronavirus
Emergency COVID19 Response Plan: J&K seeks Rs 286 cr assistance from Centre to strengthen health infrastructure
Srinagar/IBNS: J&K has sought the assistance of Rs 286 crore from the Centre under the ‘Emergency COVID19 Response Plan’ (ECRP) for improving the pediatric intensive care across the union territory and to strengthen the infrastructure to handle any future patient surge
Work has already started, the J & K government said, with a part of funding sought received from the Centre.
Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, while speaking to Greater Kashmir said the proposal had been submitted to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for improving the pediatric intensive care across Jammu & Kashmir, in addition to many other components.
“With this funding, we have already started work on pediatric intensive care units across district hospitals, 25 in each. We have also started work on filling in the gaps, wherever these existed in our healthcare delivery system, including oxygen plants and beds,” he said.
On the initiative front, he said, J&K will add to the human resource to cater to this new infrastructure and patients; ICU beds were also being added plus a stockpile of drugs was also being prepared for the future.
J&K has already equipped its two DRDO hospitals with manpower and infrastructure, including that for paediatrics to handle COVID19 cases while helping the Health and Medical Education keep the non COVID19 services functional in other hospitals.
The scheme is meant to expedite the healthcare system's preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with a focus on health infrastructure development, including for 'Pediatric Care'.
“To fast track the implementation of the ECRP-II, on 22nd July 2021, Rs 1,827 Crores have been released to the States/UTs as 15 per cent advance to undertake preparatory activities.
“Further, 35 per cent funds are being released today to the States and UTs, thus, making a total of 50 per cent release of funds so as to ensure implementation of critical activities at the State/District levels to prepare the public healthcare systems in response to the evolving pandemic,” the Centre said.
The scheme includes pediatric units, 'Pediatric Centers of Excellence', ICU beds, prefabricated structures to provide care closer to the community, field Hospitals, Liquid Medical Oxygen Storage Tanks, a fleet of ambulances, augment the HR support, implement Hospital Management Implementation System, teleconsultation services, strengthen RT-PCR testing in districts and procure Rapid Antigen Test Kits.
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