PM Modi directs immediate audit of installation, operation of ventilators given by Centre

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 situation as well as vaccination drive in the country. Several senior officials briefed the Prime Minister in the Covid review meet.

PM was briefed that testing has gone up rapidly in the country, from around 50 lakh tests per week in early March to around 1.3 crore tests per week now. They also informed the PM about the gradually decreasing test positivity rate and increasing recovery rate. It was discussed that cases which had gone over 4 lakh cases per day are now coming down as a result of the efforts by healthcare workers, state governments and central government.

PM Modi took serious note of some reports about ventilators lying unutilized in storage in some states and directed that an immediate audit of installation and operation of ventilators provided by the Central Government should be carried out.

PM took serious note of some reports about ventilators lying unutilized in storage in some states & directed that immediate audit of installation & operation of ventilators provided by the Centre should be carried out: PMO

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2021

The Prime Minister added that refresher training for properly operating ventilators should be provided to healthcare workers if necessary.

PM also said that India’s fight against Covid has been guided throughout by scientists and subject experts and will continue being guided by them.

Localised containment is the need of hour, says PM Modi

PM Modi also stressed upon the fact that localised containment strategies are the need of the hour specially for states where TPR in districts is high. The Prime Minister instructed that testing needs to be scaled up further, with use of both RT PCR and Rapid Tests, especially in areas with high test positivity rates. PM said that states should be encouraged to report their numbers transparently without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the #COVID19 related situation and vaccination today. pic.twitter.com/pbrMdJtSRy

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2021

PM Modi asked for augmentation of healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door to door testing & surveillance. He also spoke about empowering ASHA & Anganwadi workers with all necessary tools. PM asked for guidelines to be made available in easy language along with illustrations for home isolation and treatment in rural areas.

The Prime Minister directed that a distribution plan for ensuring oxygen supply in rural areas should be worked out, including through provision of Oxygen Concentrators. The Prime Minister added that necessary training should be provided to health workers in the operation of such equipment, and power supply should be ensured for smooth operation of such medical devices.

Officials also briefed the PM about the vaccination process and the state-wise coverage of 45+ population. The roadmap for future vaccine availability was also discussed. He directed officials to work closely with states to ramp up the speed of vaccination.