Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in its guidelines on rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has issued specifications and standards to be followed for Personal Protective Equipment including medical mask for use by healthcare workers and other front-line workers. These specifications are available in public domain through the website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Government of India has also issued advisory & manual on use of homemade protective cover for face & mouth for use by general public.

From no indigenous manufacturer to begin with, 1100 indigenous manufacturers of PPE kits have been developed by the Government till date, most of them being from MSME sector. As per the current assessment, the production capacity of PPE coveralls is nearly 5 lakh per day with potential for additional capacity creation to meet demand.

Health is a State subject and States need to follow the detailed guidelines for bio-medical waste management as already issued.

Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines for handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/diagnosis/ quarantine of COVID-19 patients both in facility based and home settings.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.                                                                                                                                      

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MV/SJ

HFW /23September2020