‘Consult state in fixing COVID vaccine priorities’, Punjab CM Amarinder requests centre

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday urged the Central Government to consult with the state before fixing priorities for COVID vaccination, as it is a matter involving the entire population.

With the portal created by Government of India for registration of health care and frontline workers frozen, several such workers of the state willing for vaccination registration have been left behind, he pointed out, calling upon the Centre to allow entry of such workers to improve the status of vaccination drive.

In his circulated speech at Niti Aayog meeting, the Chief Minister also requested the Gol  to allow 100% use of available SDRF towards expenditure for COVID Management, instead of the present ceiling of 50%.

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Further, in the event of SDRF yearly budget being exceeded due to enhanced expenditure on COVID related matters, the state may also be allowed to utilize previous years’ available funds, he suggested.

Captain Amarinder also urged the Central Government to provide immediate financial assistance of at least Rs. 300 crore to upgrade Health Infrastructure, equipment and other healthcare needs (medicines and consumables etc.) in view of the pandemic.

For effective service delivery at Health and Wellness Centres, liberal grants for strengthening of infrastructure, drugs and diagnostic may be provided by the Centre to strengthen the state’s efforts to provide comprehensive primary health care services through Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres with a linkage to secondary health care services, especially during the COVID period, said the Chief Minister.

He also sought creation of a ‘Water Quality Kosh’ in every state to enable Punjab to achieve the vision of providing potable water to each rural household on a sustainable basis even in the water quality affected habitations.

Captain Amarinder further requested the GoI to consider the Gurdaspur Medical College project on priority to provide better healthcare in the border district.