Odisha demands more funds, medical equipment from Centre to tackle COVID-19
The state's Health and Family Welfare Minister N K Dasearlier in the day briefed his counterpart in the Uniongovernment, Harsh Vardhan, through video-conferencing.
"We have demanded more Personal Protective Equipment(PPEs) for doctors and healthcare workers... masks and COVID-19 testing kits," Das told reporters from his home town inJharsuguda.
Odisha has extended the lockdown period to April 30.
He said though the Centre has sanctioned over Rs15,000 crore for containing the spread of COVID-19 and itstreatment, the state has so far received "only Rs 46.35crore".
"That is too small an amount to face a disaster ofsuch a nature," the minister said.
Das said there is immediate need for 5 lakh PPEs,hydroxychloroquine and vitamin-C tablets, N-95 masks andsanitisers for safety of the frontline healthcare workersengaged in treatment of coronavirus patients in Odisha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to have adiscussion with chief ministers on Saturday on the COVID-19situation. AAMRBT RBT