New Delhi: The National Health Mission approved a 100 % centrally funded five years scheme worth Rs 15,000 crores to strengthen national and state-level health systems was approved on Wednesday as India fights to control the spread of the infectious Covid- 19 virus.

The National Health Mission Director said in a circular that “Covid- 19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package” will be implemented in three phases – from January 2020 to June 2020, from July 2020 to March 2021 and from April 2021 to March 2024. This fund will be divided among all states and union territories. Activities to be funded under this scheme include the development of dedicated Covid- 19 hospitals, ICUs (intensive care unit) and supply of oxygen in medical centres.

“With the objective of emergency COVID-19 response, (a fund has been set up for) strengthening national and state health systems to support prevention and preparedness, procurement of essential medical equipment, consumables and drugs and strengthening of surveillance activities, including setting up laboratories and bio-security preparedness,”.  Activities listed under the first phase also include disinfection of hospitals and government ambulances, as well as purchase of PPE (personal protection equipment) and N-95 face masks.

This week the Union Home Ministry released Rs 11,092 crores from the State Disaster Risk Management Fund. In March the centre also allowed states to tap into their respective disaster response funds (SDRF).