To meet the need for medical supplies, the government is taking the help of private organizations, as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in India increased to 137 on Tuesday.
Private hospitals have been urged to make ready the beds and private rooms to the patients of coronavirus said health ministry officials.
The National Health Authority, the nodal agency for Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme for the poor, has been recognised to take up the protocol and health packages for this section of the population in case India enters the stage 3.
“We are preparing for stage 3 and keeping our packages ready,” Indu Bhushan, chief executive, NHA, told ET. Ayushman Bharat will cover eligible Covid-19 patients in case they receive treatment in private hospitals. This was proposed on 18th March.
On 23re March, we were informed that there is a shortage of vital equipment needed to protect healthcare staff from catching infections as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in the country.
“There is a shortage of body coveralls and N-95 masks,” stated the minutes of the meeting, which ET has seen. “There is a shortage of material and the rate of supply is not able to meet the rising demand.”
But the government informed the people of the nation not to panic as there will not be any shortage and everything will be going smoothly as it is.
