Urge industry for healthcare support to fight the crisis: TS Singh Deo, Minister Health Care & GST, Government of Chhattisgarh

Apr 24, 2021

NEW DELHI/ RAIPUR, 24 April 2021: Mr TS Singh Deo, Minister Health Care & GST, Government of Chhattisgarh today said that the nature of the virus that has engulfed the nation is still unknown. "We must, in whatever we can do in whichever way possible, help the state and its people by providing things and services that are necessary at this time," said Mr Singh Deo.

In an interaction with industry members of healthcare sector, organised by FICCI, Mr Singh Deo urged industry to come forward and support the state during these difficult times. "Apart from the business and moral obligations, in this prevailing times of crisis, you (industry) can help us, whether through CSR or outward contributions, by putting up infrastructure in the sphere of testing. You can also help us by setting up ICUs and oxygen generating plants. We also need to work out how to meet supplies in time," he said.

Elaborating on RT PCR testing, the minister said that while the Government of India would like all states to achieve at least 70 per cent of testing within the states, Chhattisgarh has a long way to go. "We are currently at 40 per cent. I would request the industry to help us understand the methods in which we could pick up our RT PCR testing capabilities," he added.

Mr Singh Deo also spoke on the possibility of setting up a BSL-4 level laboratory that could undertake genome sequence testing. "This can be treated as a long-term investment for a long-term goal to serve the people. We are also looking at setting up around 1200-1300 ICU units. We have floated our proposal to the govt, and seek the industry's guidance towards this," he further added. 

The minister also urged the industry champions to help subsidise vaccines for the state. "Chhattisgarh is comparatively a lesser developed state that has its own budgetary and financial limitations. I am a universal healthcare person. My stress is on public utilities being strong enough, but this cannot be achieved without the private sector. My priority is to strengthen the public sector as much as possible and walk along with the private sector to be constructive. We hope that in the long run Chhattisgarh can provide the industry with its requirements," he said.

Mr Pradeep Tandon, Chair, Chhattisgarh State Council President, Jindal Steels & Power Ltd said that the second wave of the pandemic has taken us by surprise and there is a strong need for the industry to get together with the government in taking up various measures to counter this. "Availability of infrastructure and various facilities is of topmost priority and FICCI can provide help to the government and the vaccination drive in whichever way possible," he said.

The interaction was well-attended by industry champions from the healthcare sector. Mr Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI; Mr Vishwaprasad Alva, Chair FICCI Medical Devices Forum; Mr Arvind Varchaswi, Co-chair, FICCI AYUSH Committee and MD Sri Sri Tatva; Mr Sunil Khurana, Chair, FICCI Medical Electronics Forum & Managing Director, BPL Medical Technologies; Dr Alok Roy, Chair Health Services and Chairman Medica Hospitals Group; Mr Chhitz Kumar, Head, Philips; Mr Ashok Nair, Co-chair, FICCI Pharmaceuticals and MD, Abbott, among others, extended their support to the state government to overcome this crisis.