Amid Vaccine Shortage, PM Modi Takes Charge; Directs Officials To Use 'Entire National Capacity' To Boost Production

In the meeting via video conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed various aspects relating to medicines, oxygen, ventilators and vaccination. PM Modi said that all necessary measures must be taken to ramp up the availability of hospital beds for Covid patients. 

PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a review meet to take stock of the Covid situation across the country. In the meeting via video conference with top central government officials and state governments, the Prime Minister discussed various aspects relating to medicines, oxygen, ventilators and vaccination.

PM Modi said that all necessary measures must be taken to ramp up the availability of hospital beds for Covid patients. News agency ANI quoted the Office of Prime Minister stating that Narendra Modi has directed that additional supply of beds through temporary hospitals and isolation centers should be ensured.

 PM spoke about the need to utilise the full potential of India’s pharmaceutical industry to meet the rising demand of various medicines. He stressed that there is no substitute to testing, tracking and treatment. Early testing and proper tracking remains key to reduce mortality. He also said that local administrations need to be proactive and sensitive to people’s concerns.

On the issue of the supply of medical oxygen, the Prime Minister directed that the installation of approved medical oxygen plants should be sped up. He said that the supply of oxygen required for the production of medicines and equipment necessary to handle the pandemic should also be ensured.

Narendra Modi also reviewed the status of the availability and supply of ventilators. He noted that a real-time monitoring system has been created, and directed that concerned State governments should be sensitized to use the system proactively.

PM Modi said that the use of Remdesivir, other medicines must follow approved medical guidelines; their misuse, black marketing must be strictly curbed.

The crucial meeting has come at the time when India once again recorded the highest-ever single-day spike of Covid-19 cases on Saturday. According to the ministry of health and family welfare, the country registered over 2.34 lakh new cases and more than 1,300 deaths in 24 hours. 

Earlier in the day, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan chaired a high-level review meeting with the Health Ministers of 11 states/UTs to review the measures taken for prevention, containment, and management of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.