New Delhi: Besides augmenting COVID-19 facilities, the Centre has been providing medical supplies free of cost to the State and Union Territory governments to supplement their efforts.
Most of the products supplied by the Government of India 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.
With the combined efforts of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Defence Research and Development Organisation 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.
As a result, resolve for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ has been strengthened and most of the supplies made by the Union Government are domestically manufactured.
Since 11th March this year, the Union Government has distributed more than 3.04 crore N95 masks and more than 1.28 crore PPE kits to States, UTs, Central Institutions, free of cost. Also, more than 10.83 crore HCQ tablets have been distributed to them.
In addition, 22 thousand 5 hundred 33 ‘Make in India’ ventilators have been delivered to various States, UTs, Central Institutions. The Centre is also ensuring their installation and commissioning.
