News Analysis India

Tag: Mansukh Mandaviya

  • Afghan returnees to be vaccinated against polio in India: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India has decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees against polio for free as a preventive measure against the wild polio virus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Sunday. The minister also shared a photo where returnees could be seen getting jabs at the Delhi international airport.

    Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. “We have decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees with free Polio Vaccine – OPV & fIPV, as a preventive measure against Wild Polio Virus. Congratulations to the Health Team for their efforts to ensure public health Take a look at the vaccine drive at Delhi International Airport,” Mandaviya tweeted.

    We have decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees with free Polio Vaccine – OPV & fIPV, as a preventive measure against Wild Polio VirusCongratulations to the Health Team for their efforts to ensure public healthTake a look at the vaccine drive at Delhi International Airport pic.twitter.com/jPVF1lVmRu
    — Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 22, 2021
    India on Sunday evacuated 168 people including 107 Indians from Kabul in a military transport aircraft of the IAF amid the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital city following its takeover by the Taliban a week back.

    The country had earlier evacuated 200 people including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in Kabul in two C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF after the Taliban seized control of Kabul. The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on Monday.

    The second C-17 aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on Tuesday. The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

  • Report about fake Covishield vaccine being probed: Mandaviya

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said the government has launched an inquiry into a report claiming that counterfeit versions of Covishield, India’s primary anti-COVID-19 vaccine, had been seized.

    “It has been claimed that duplicate versions of Covishield vaccine were sold in the country. The Indian government is probing this claim, and will take action if it found any substance to the allegations,” he told reporters in Rajkot.

    The report about counterfeit vaccine allegedly being seized quoted the World Health Organization.

    Mandaviya, who was recently elevated as health minister, also said that three more vaccines for adults would be available in India soon.

    “At present three vaccines are available in India – Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik. In coming days, three more vaccines would arrive, including one from Zydus Cadila. The other two will be from Genova and Biological Evans,” he said.

    On the Centre’s plan to tackle a possible third wave of the pandemic, he said it has already earmarked Rs 23,000 crore for the purpose.

    “We have planned to keep a buffer stock of medicines worth Rs 1 crore in each district along with one cryogenic tank for the supply of medical oxygen. We have also planned to deploy one ambulance at a block level. Hospitals have been instructed to reserve beds for COVID-19 patients and have separate beds for infected children,” he said.

    Mandaviya took out `Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ from Rajkot on Thursday and visited Virpur and Khodaldham temples on the first day of the tour.

  • Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala begin ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ in Gujarat

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala embarked on a ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ in Gujarat on Thursday as part of the ruling BJP’s exercise to establish a dialogue with the common people and thank them for supporting the party in elections.

    Last week, the Gujarat BJP announced that five newly-inducted Union ministers from Gujarat, including Mandaviya and Rupala, will tour various parts of their home state from August 16 to 21. Rajya Sabha member and Union Health Minister Mandaviya started a vehicle rally on Thursday morning from Rajkot after addressing party workers at a hall in the city.

    The minister’s tour will end at his native place Bhavnagar on August 21 after covering several parts of Junagadh, Amreli and Botad.

    Another Rajya Sabha member and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, commenced his journey from Unjha town in Mehsana district on Thursday after visiting the famous Umiya Mataji temple in Unjha.

    His cavalcade would cover parts of Morbi and Rajkot districts before culminating at his native place Amreli in Saurashtra region on August 21, said a release by the state BJP.

    Earlier, three other Union ministers from Gujarat – Mahendra Munjapara, Devusinh Chauhan and Darshana Jardosh – carried out their tours in the state over the last three days. Apart from thanking people for electing the BJP in elections held in the recent past, the yatras are also an exercise to establish a dialogue with people, the party release said.

    The BJP won by-elections to eight Gujarat Assembly seats held last year as well as polls to six municipal corporations and various other local bodies in the state earlier this year. The Gujarat Assembly elections are due in December next year.

  • Ayushman Bharat ensures both poor, well-off get same treatment: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said the Ayushman Bharat scheme has enabled poor people to afford treatment at the same hospital like the well-off.

    Chairing an event Arogya Dhara-2.0 to mark the completion of 2 crore treatments under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), he also launched key initiatives like Adhikar Patra, Abhinandan Patra and Ayushman Mitra.

    With the completion of more than 2 crore hospital admissions landmark on Tuesday, treatments worth approximately Rs 25,000 crore have been provided till date through a growing network of 23,000 public and private empaneled hospitals to patients across 33 states and union territories in the country since the launch of the scheme on September 23, 2018, the health ministry said.

    “Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is an ambitious scheme ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for the poor and underprivileged people. The scheme has empowered all eligible beneficiaries with cashless and paperless healthcare services benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Thus, many disadvantaged sections can afford treatment without turning to moneylenders,” Mandaviya was quoted as saying in the statement.

    On the government’s work towards universal health coverage in India, he noted, “Prime Minister’s humble background enables him to feel the pain of the poor and helpless.” Mandaviya exhorted common people to spread the word of the scheme so that more and more people are enrolled for medical care under the programme.

    Citing examples from his personal life, the minister noted that the scheme has enabled poor people to afford treatment at the same hospital like his well-off peer. He also virtually inaugurated Arogya Dhara 2.0 to increase the reach of AB PMJAY programme to the poorest of the poor households in the country and to make the beneficiaries aware about the scheme.

    The key initiatives also launched on the occasion are Adhikar Patra, Abhinandan Patra and Ayushman Mitra.

    Adhikar Patra will be issued to the beneficiaries during their hospital admissions for treatment under PM-JAY scheme to make them aware about their rights so that they can claim free and cashless healthcare services up to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme, the ministry said.

    Abhinandan Patra, a ‘thank you note’, will be issued to the beneficiaries during their discharge after the treatment under PM-JAY for availing the benefits of AB PM-JAY scheme. The Abhinandan Patra is also accompanied by a feedback form to be filled in by the beneficiary regarding the service they received under the scheme.

    Ayushman Mitra is an another key initiative launched which provides an opportunity to all citizens to contribute to the vision of Ayushman Bharat by helping eligible people to get their Ayushman Cards created and bring them under the ambit of the scheme.

    National Health Authority CEO Dr RS Sharma lauded the NHA’s robust IT platforms for enabling a simpler, fast, cashless, transparent and paperless entire claim process for beneficiaries to seek financial aid Rs 5 lakh in a time bound manner anywhere in the country and hoped to soon achieve the government’s target of verifying and enrolling over 50 crore beneficiaries under the scheme.

  • Mandaviya meets WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan, discusses health body’s approval for Covaxin

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday met WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan and held discussions over the global health body’s approval for Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.

    “Held a meeting with Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of @WHO. We had a productive discussion on WHO’s approval of @BharatBiotech’s COVAXIN. @DoctorSoumya also appreciated India’s efforts for the containment of #COVID19,” Mandaviya tweeted.

    All documents required for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) have been submitted by Bharat Biotech for COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of July 9 and the review process by the global health body has commenced, the Rajya Sabha was told last month.

    Responding to question on whether it has come to the notice of the government that Covaxin used in India as Covid vaccine is not recognised by many countries, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar in a written reply said, “The Government of India is aware that Covaxin at present is not part of WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL).”

    Elaborating on efforts that have been made by the government to resolve this issue, Pawar said, “All documents required for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) have been submitted by Bharat Biotech International Ltd.to WHO as of 9th July 2021. The review process by WHO has commenced. WHO usually takes up to six weeks to decide on Emergency Use Listing (EUL) submissions.”

    Developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research, Covaxin was approved for emergency use on January 3.

    Trial results later showed the vaccine has an efficacy of 78 per cent.

  • Five Union Ministers from Gujarat to reach out to people through yatras from August 16

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Five newly-inducted Union ministers from Gujarat, including Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, will take part in yatras organised by the BJP in various parts of their home state from August 16 to 20, a party functionary said on Tuesday.

    The “Jan Ashirvad Yatras” is organised by the Gujarat BJP unit to reach out to people, he said.

    “BJP workers, as well as party office-bearers, would also take part in these five ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatras’ between August 16 and 20. Since each Yatra would last for three days, some of them would overlap. Apart from thanking the people for electing BJP in elections, this is also an exercise to establish a dialogue with the people,” said Yagnesh Dave, media coordinator, Gujarat BJP.

    Notably, Assembly elections in Gujarat are due in December next year.

    Rajya Sabha MP and Union Minister for Health Mansukh Mandaviya would join ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’ from Rajkot district which will culminate at his native place Bhavnagar via Amreli district, said a statement by the Gujarat BJP.

    A vehicle rally of Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Surendranagar MP Mahendra Munjapara will be held between Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts.

    The yatra would also cover some parts of the Botad, Rajkot and Morbi districts.

    Rajya Sabha MP and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, would undertake a journey from Unjha town in Mehsana district to reach his native place Amreli in the Saurashtra region.

    Kheda MP and Union Communications Minister Devusinh Chauhan will join the yatra from Palanpur in Banaskantha district which will pass through Aravalli and Mahisagar districts before reaching Kheda.

    Surat MP Darshana Jardosh, who was recently inducted as MoS Railways and Textiles in the Modi government, would embark on the yatra from Vadodara to Surat, said the release.

  • Covid vaccination certificate now available through WhatsApp

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can now get their vaccination certificate through WhatsApp within seconds, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s office said on Sunday.

    Presently, people have to download their vaccination certificate by logging into the CoWin portal.

    “Revolutionising common man’s life using technology! Now get COVID-19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in 3 easy steps. Save contact number: +91 9013151515. Type & send ‘covid certificate’ on WhatsApp. Enter OTP. Get your certificate in seconds,” Mandaviya’s office tweeted.

    Now get #COVID19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in 3 easy steps.Save contact number: +91 9013151515Type & send ‘covid certificate’ on WhatsAppEnter OTPGet your certificate in seconds.@NewIndianXpress#CovidVaccine
    — Sumi Dutta (@SumiSukanya) August 8, 2021
    Cumulatively, 50,68,10,492 Covid vaccine doses have been administered in the country through 58,51,292 sessions, according to a provisional report till 7 am on Sunday, with 55,91,657 doses being given in a day.

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years and aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

    India threw open the vaccination drive for all people aged above 45 from April 1.

    The government further expanded the vaccination drive to cover everyone above the age of 18 from May 1.

  • Health Minister Mandaviya slams Opposition in Lok Sabha for not allowing MoS Bharti Pawar to speak

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday lashed out at the opposition in Lok Sabha as it protested on the Pegasus issue while junior minister Bharti Pawar was replying to a question in the House.

    This was Pawar’s first oral response to a question in the Lower House of Parliament.

    She was inducted in the Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet last month after a reshuffle in the Council of Ministers.

    Just as an adivasi (tribal) woman stood to reply, opposition members did not allow her to do so and this is an “insult” to her, Mandaviya said as he came to the minister of state (MoS) for health’s defence.

    When Lok Sabha convened for the day, questions for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were first on the list during the Question Hour.

    Pawar started replying to a question, but members of the opposition raised the Pegasus snooping and farm laws issues and protested against the government.

    The MoS was replying to a supplementary question on institutional deliveries and maternal mortality and she said the opposition does not have the courage to listen to the work done by Prime Minister Modi for the protection of women and children.

    Slamming the opposition for not letting Pawar reply, Mandaviya said she hails from an adivasi community and has an MBBS degree.

    “She is standing to reply (as a minister) from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    But an adivasi woman (minister) wants to present to the House and country the reply about health and family welfare, but the opposition does not want to listen to it,” he said.

    “The Constitution enabled women to get elected to Parliament. Modi ji included them in the Council of Ministers. This is an insult to adivasi women. I urge the opposition to listen to an adivasi woman, a learned adivasi woman,” Mandaviya said.

    Pawar is a first time MP from Dindori in Nashik in Maharashtra.

  • Covid vaccination for children likely to start soon: Mandaviya tells BJP MPs

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday told BJP MPs that Covid vaccination for children is likely to start soon, sources said.

    During the BJP parliamentary party meeting, Mandaviya said that the Covid vaccination drive is going on in full swing in the country. Currently, only those who are 18 or above are eligible for vaccination against the coronavirus.

    Very soon a vaccine is expected for children and inoculation for them will start, the sources quoted the minister as telling the MPs.

    The government had earlier said that Covid vaccination of children in the 12-18 age group may start by the end of July or in August.

    “Trial for the Zydus Cadila vaccine is almost complete. By July-end or in August, we might be able to start administering this vaccine to children of 12-18 age group,” Dr N K Arora, chairman of the COVID-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), had said recently.

    The government had also informed the Supreme Court recently that the vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila will be available soon for children who are 12 and above subject to statutory permissions.

    Zydus Cadila is likely to soon apply to the Drugs Controller General of India for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine ZyCoV-D, which it claims can be given to both adults and children.

    Earlier, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria had told PTI that making vaccine available for children will be a milestone achievement and pave the way for reopening of schools and resumption of outdoor activities.

    He had said the data of phase two and three trial of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on two to 18 years age group is expected by September.

    The vaccine can be available for children in India around that time following approval from the drug regulator, he had said.

    “If the Pfizer vaccine gets approval before that, then it can also be an option for children,” Dr Guleria had said” If the Zydus vaccine gets approval, it will be another option,” Guleria had said.

  • After flak for denying deaths due to lack of oxygen, Centre now writes to states seeking info

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: After drawing flak for denying that there were any Covid-19 deaths due to the shortage of oxygen during the second wave of the pandemic in India, the Union health ministry has now asked the states to share this data urgently, The New Indian Express has learnt. In letters written to states, the ministry has asked that this data be shared before the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament concludes on August 13, government officials said.

    The development comes a week after the Centre had informed the Parliament that no states had specifically reported any deaths due to oxygen shortage during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

    In a response to an unstarred question by Congress MP KC Venugopal, the Union health ministry said that while health is a state subject, all states report cases and deaths to it on a regular basis, as per detailed guidelines for reporting deaths.

    “No deaths due to lack of oxygen have been specifically reported by states/UTs,” said the ministry in its written response.

    ALSO READ | Covid hospitalisation costs equal to average Indian worker’s 7-month pay: Study

    Further, the ministry had underlined that the Centre supported the states and undertook a series of actions including provisioning medical oxygen, and other consumables to ensure clinical care of Covid-19 patients in view of the steep rise of the case trajectory in the country during April and May this year.

    The figures shared by the government on different occasions showed that while during the first pandemic wave in India, the peak requirement had been just about 3100 MT oxygen, it had crossed 9000 MT during the peak of the second wave when the number of active cases was near the 40 lakh mark.

    The situation had been particularly bad in states without any production capacity of medical oxygen and far away from oxygen generating industrial units, such as Delhi.

    Several countries from different continents had also contributed to India crucial resources such as oxygen concentrators, PSA oxygen generation plants and tankers to meet the demand of oxygen in various states and hospitals.  

    ALSO READ | ‘Oxygen man’ of Bengaluru provides cylinders to families in need during Covid lockdown

    The huge scarcity of oxygen during April-May however prompted the Centre to sanction PSA oxygen generating plants in most district hospitals in India under the PM Cares fund. While some of the plants have become functional, many others are in the pipeline over the next few months.

    This, the government has said, would be necessary to meet the requirement of oxygen during the possible future waves of the infectious disease. 

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