New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for 2021-22 by voice vote with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan asserting that COVID-19 vaccines are not being sent to other countries at the expense of Indian citizens.
Replying to a debate in the House, Dr Vardhan refuted the allegations of supplying vaccines to other countries at the expense of Indians, saying a balance has been stuck with due care.
Responding to the criticism of the pace of vaccination, he said out of eight million people vaccinated all over the world so far, nearly three million are in India which is 36 per cent.
He said in the coming days, to face any pandemic situation, integrated public health labs at block levels will be set up. For tracing, an integrated health information portal will also be introduced, Dr Vardhan added.
The minister recalled Rs 35,000 crore has been arranged by the Finance Minister for vaccination. Pneumococcal vaccines which were available in only five States are now being supplied across the country, he stated.
He said that world-class health services are being developed in the country whose result can be seen in effectively dealing with Covid-19.
Dr Vardhan said the country is becoming 'Atmanirbhar' in the health sector, preparations are on to tackle every pandemic in the future.
He said provision has been made in the budget for every health-related service and it has been increased as compared to earlier.
Dr Vardhan said the government has decided that from April 1, every health budget announcement will be implemented.
The Union Health Minister said that work is going on to make the country TB-free, and for this, a mass movement will be started.
He said that compared to 2014, there has been a huge decline in the number of TB patients in the country and the government is paying special attention to TB patients.
Referring to the achievements of his government in the health sector, Dr Vardhan said in 2014, there were 381 medical colleges in the country, which has increased to 562 today.
He said till 2003, there was only one AIIMS in the country, six by 2014, but now 22. The CGHS facility was in 25 cities till 2014, which is now in 74 cities, he added.
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