Delhi Cabinet Approves A Budget of Rs 1,544 Cr To Boost Up Health Infrastructure

Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi Government has approved a budget of Rs 1,544 crore to boost up health infrastructure of the National Capital. In this direction, Delhi’s fight against COVID-19 will get stronger after Delhi Cabinet’s nod to the state’s own ‘Emergency COVID Response Package. This budget will be spent on further enhancing testing and labs, procuring supplies, mobilizing additional human resources, increasing health facilities in the hospitals and managing Covid Care Centres among others.

Delhi Chief Minister said that as a responsible government, we are taking all measures and steps necessary in this fight against COVID. He added that in view of the advent of a possible wave of COVID, the Delhi Government is trying its best to strengthen its health systems and preparedness at every level. Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain said that this move will further enhance the management of resources in Delhi and prove to be crucial in the advent of any future wave of COVID.

A cabinet meeting was held last day at the Delhi Secretariat and cabinet was of the consensus that the corona is not over yet and a third wave can be expected. Thus, in this fight against COVID-19, there should not be any hesitations with respect to the control and prevention of the spread of COVID-19. In this direction, the Delhi Cabinet unanimously approved a budget of Rs 1544.24 crore for the State ECRP 2021-22 to further strengthen the fight against Corona.

Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain stressed upon the need for the state’s own package to combat COVID and said, “As a caring and sensitive administration, we are going head to head against COVID in order to protect the people of Delhi. We are now further bolstering our battle against the Coronavirus through the State Emergency COVID Response Package. This package will further enhance the management of resources in Delhi and prove to be crucial in the advent of any future wave of COVID”.

Out of the total budget, Rs 415 Crores will be used for the strengthening of COVID-19 Testing and Labs. Rs 445 Crores will be allotted for Procurement of Supplies. A budget of Rs 280 Crore will help bolster Health Facilities and Hospitals along with an amount of Rs 125 Crores that will aid the Management of COVID Care Centres.

Delhi has experienced four waves of COVID-19 pandemic, which include two minor peaks, but as per the national perception, there were only two major COVID-19 case surges in India. The last surge of COVID-19 cases during April 2021-June 2021 was the biggest. The experts are anticipating a third wave of COVID-19 cases in India, including Delhi, bigger than the earlier surges of COVID-19 cases. The Delhi Government in that view had constituted a State Level Task Force under State Nodal Officer and several task-based sub committees to prepare for management of probable third wave of COVID-19 in Delhi.

The health infrastructure of the city is being strengthened on a rapid scale, and the focus is on high-quality treatment that is easily accessible to all the people of Delhi. 6836 ICU beds will be added in 7 hospitals in Delhi. After which the capacity of ICU beds in Delhi will increase to seventeen thousand.

The new beds will be set up at Sarita Vihar, Shalimar Bagh, Sultanpuri, Kirari, Raghubir Nagar, GTB Hospital and Chacha Nehru Children’s Hospital. Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that there are about 10,000 ICU beds in government hospitals in Delhi. With the addition of new 6800 beds, the capacity of ICU beds will increase by almost 70 percent. In the same prospect the addition of these beds will not only ramp up the ICU bed facilities by 70% but also be monumental in achieving the target of 37,000 beds in the state.

The Delhi government is setting up PSA oxygen plants in Delhi hospitals to reduce the dependence of hospitals on taking oxygen from outside and other hospitals can also refill oxygen cylinders from these plants during emergencies.

During the last wave of Corona, the demand for oxygen in Delhi had increased and many hospitals had to deal with the shortage of oxygen. To make Delhi self-sufficient in the matter of oxygen, 73 PSA plants with a capacity of 77.80 MT are being installed in Delhi Government hospitals. All the plants will be commissioned by the end of November 2021.