By Online Desk
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday resigned from the Union Cabinet ahead of the nuch-awaited cabinet reshuffle later in the evening. The Minister of state for health Ashwini Chaube also stepped down a little later.
Their resignations come at a time when the central government is at the receiving end of criticism over its handling of the brutal Covid second wave that left lakhs dead and many more desperate for oxygen and hospital beds.
The new health minister will have several challenges ahead as the government battles to avoid a third Covid wave.
Among the pressing challenges is vaccinating all Indians above the age of 18 as soon as possible. This at a time when vaccine supply constraints are being highlighted by countless state governments.
At a bigger level is the need to ramp up the health infrastructure across the country even as health spend in the union budget still lags behind in comparison to the developed countries of the world.
The first rejig in PM Modi’s second term will see 43 new ministers taking the oath of office on Wednesdday evening.
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