PANJIM: Goa, with over 26,700 confirmed COVID cases, has managed to get just Rs 5.98 crore from the State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund (SDRMF), through two installments released so far by the Central Government for the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package.
The Center is of the view that since Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility of treatment of COVID-19 patients lies with the respective State governments.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
During FY 2020-21, funds of Rs 4230.78 crore have been released to the States/ UTs as on 03.09.2020. The total sanction to Goa is Rs 7.72 crore which is the least as compared to other smaller states in the country.
Financial assistance to States/UTs has been given based on the number of cases and trends of COVID-19 Pandemic. Accordingly, all the States/ UTs are provided with necessary financial support under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package. States /UTs were given flexibility to use the resources available under NHM to prepare the public healthcare system for COVID-19 management.
This fund could be utilized for setting up quarantine facilities, sample collection and screening, setting up additional testing laboratories, meeting the cost of consumables, purchase of personal protection equipment’s (PPEs) for healthcare, municipal, police and fire authorities, and purchase of thermal scanners, ventilators and air purifiers.
Besides this, States/UTs are being provided required technical and financial assistance under National Health Mission (NHM) for managing the COVID-19.
