New Delhi (NVI): The government has distributed over 3.04 crore N95 masks, more than 1.28 crore PPE kits and over 10.83 crore HCQ tablets to states, Union Territories and central institutions for free since March 11, the Union Health Ministry said today.
In addition, 22,533 ‘Make in India’ ventilators have been delivered to various states, Union Territories and central institutions. The Centre is also ensuring their installation and commissioning, the Health Ministry in a statement said.
In the relentless work for containment and management of COVID-19, the central role of government has been in strengthening health infrastructure of states and Union Terrorists to fight the pandemic and its effective management, it added.
The ministry stated that, along with augmenting COVID-19 facilities, the government has alson been providing medical supplies to states and Union Territories for free of cost to supplement their efforts.
Most of the products supplied by the government were not being manufactured in the country in the beginning. The rising global demand due to the pandemic resulted in their scarce availability in the foreign markets, it said.
The statement further stated, “With the combined efforts of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and others, the domestic industry has been encouraged and facilitated to manufacture and supply essential medical equipment like PPEs, N95 masks, ventilators etc., during this period.”
However, the resolve for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ has been strengthened and most of the supplies made by the government are domestically manufactured, it added.
