NEW DELHI – The Indian government approved a new emergency response package worth over US$3 billion (RM12.5 billion) to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic yesterday, reported Xinhua.
The announcement was made following the first meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s revamped cabinet.
“The union (federal) cabinet chaired by Modi today has approved a new scheme – India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Phase 2 – amounting to ₹23,123 crore (RM12.9 million) for the financial year 2021-22,” said a statement issued by the government.
“This scheme aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with the focus on health infrastructure development, including for paediatric care, and with measurable outcomes.”
Out of the over US$3 billion package announced, over US$2 billion will be spent by the central leadership and US$1 billion allocated to states.
Mansukh Mandaviya took charge as the new federal Health and Family Welfare minister yesterday.
Former health minister Harsh Vardhan and his junior minister, Ashwini Chaube, tendered their resignations on Wednesday, ahead of the major cabinet reshuffle.
Both the ministers have been dropped in the new reshuffle.
The change in health minister comes at a time when India is in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
India has been experiencing a second wave of the virus since mid-February, with the pandemic spreading into rural, peri-urban and tribal areas. – Bernama, July 9, 2021
