Covid relief package: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces additional Rs 23,220 crore for public health sector

New Delhi: Centre on Monday announced eight economic relief measures for India Inc, state governments as well as micro finance credit users.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 1.1 lakh crore loan guarantee for the Covid affected sectors and Rs 50,000 cr for the health sector aimed at upscaling medical infrastructure.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced additional Rs 23,220 crore for public health sector. This will emphasis especially on children and pediatric care/ pediatric beds.

The new funding for public healthcare sector would focus on short term emergency preparedness with special emphasis on children and pediatric care.

The funding would also be used for short-term HR augmentation through medical students and nursing students.

The FM said the funding would help to increase the availability of the ICU beds, as well as, oxygen supply at central, district and sub-district levels.

The funding would ensure adequate availability of equipment, medicines, access to teleconsultation and ambulance services in the covi affected areas.

The funding would enhance testing capacity and supportive diagnostic, strengthen capacity for surveillance and genome sequencing, stated in the statement released by the finance minister.

Apart from these, the centre has extended the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana till March 31, 2022 entailing government nearing PF liability of employees and employers depending on the size of the organisation.