As informed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Health is a State subject and the Central Government has been providing required technical and financial assistance to all States/ Union Territories (UTs) for strengthening of their healthcare system including management of the COVID-19 Public Health Challenge from time to time. Financial assistance to States/UTs is provided under the National Health Mission (NHM).

During the Financial Year 2019-20, funds to the tune of Rs.1113.21 crore were released to States/UTs towards management of COVID -19 over and above their normal resource envelope under NHM.

Further, Central Government has approved ‘India COVID19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package’ and Rs 15,000 Crore was provided under the package in April 2020 with an objective to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19. Under this package, during the Financial Year 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs. 8,257.88 crore have also been released to the States/UTs to aid management and control of COVID-19.

            In addition, ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ has also been approved by the Government for an amount of Rs 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Crore as Central share & Rs 8,123 Crore as State share) for the period July, 21 to March, 2022. It includes support to States/UTs for ramping up Health infrastructure, including in rural, tribal and peri-urban areas closer to the community, providing support for procurement of Drugs and Diagnostics to enhance service delivery at district and sub district levels for management of COVID-19 cases (including paediatric care) and for maintaining a buffer of drugs, support for IT Interventions such as implementation of Hospital Management Information System and expanding Access to Tele-Consultations in all districts, and support for Capacity Building and Training for all aspects of management of COVID-19.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

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RK/PK/DDD/AY/401