Fearing 3rd wave, govt approves over 50% O2 beds in 6 states

As the threat of the third COVID-19 wave looms in India, the Centre on Friday approved over 50 per cent of paediatric oxygen beds, under the Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package.

As per a report by Indian Express, the oxygen beds will be set up in six states that predominantly have rural and peri-urban populations.

In a bid to augment the three-tier healthcare systems up to the village level, the final plan of the package, includes six states getting 60 per cent of 75,218 beds.

The six states are Uttar Pradesh (11,770), Bihar (9,920), Andhra Pradesh (9,596), Odisha (8,206), Assam (7,320), and Jharkhand (5,798).

The move comes after several experts across the country have predicted that the third wave of COVID-19 is expected to impact children the most.

With the aim to augment the infrastructure of paediatric care at the district level, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in consultation with the states, on Friday approved the creation of 19,030 paediatric oxygen beds and 10,428 paediatric ICU beds.

The granular data of the final plan shows that six states will get funding to set up more than 1,000 paediatric oxygen beds: UP (3,270), Madhya Pradesh (1,900), Maharashtra (1,500), Jharkhand (1,080), Bihar (1,060), and Chhattisgarh (1,020).

As per the report by The Indian Express, out of 10,428 paediatric ICU to be set up, eight states will get funding for setting up more than 450 beds: MP (1,704), UP (1,476), Maharashtra (684), Tamil Nadu (516), Rajasthan (492), Jharkhand (468), and Bihar (456).

The Centre has approved the plan for the creation of 23,056 ICU beds on the basis of inputs received by the states on the experience of the second wave related to the availability of beds.

Under the plan, seven states will set up more than 1,000 beds each: UP (4,007), Karnataka (3,021), Maharastra (2,970), West Bengal (1,874), Tamil Nadu (1,583), MP (1,138), and Andhra Pradesh (1,120).

On July 22, Rs 1827.80 crore was released to the states as a 15 per cent advance to undertaking the preparatory activities to implement Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package. On Friday, after approval of the final plan, a further 35 per cent of the funds were released, the Health Ministry said.

Under the final plan, 5,749 life support ambulances will be added; and 433 RT PCR labs will be constructed to further augment testing facilities. Out of the 433 RT- PCR labs constructed, four states will get more than 30 new RT PCR labs: Gujarat (66), Madhya Pradesh (46), Bihar (38), and Uttar Pradesh (30).