Hello,
With the CoP 26 just round the corner, the newspapers are primarily reporting on international environmental developments. This is a fantastic opportunity revise the same this week and consolidate it as well. I am expecting CoP 26 to be primary focus this week.
Additionally, a new health scheme called PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has been launched. The newspapers have not given a lot of detail on it but PIB has. I am highlighting the key points below :
The aim is to strengthen the critical healthcare network from village to block to the district to the regional and national level in the next 4-5 years.
The first aspect is related to the creation of elaborate facilities for diagnostics and treatment. Under this, Health and Wellness Centers are being opened in villages and cities, where there will be facilities for early detection of diseases. Facilities like free medical consultation, free tests, free medicine will be available in these centres. For serious illness, 35 thousand new critical care-related beds are being added in 600 districts and referral facilities will be given in 125 districts.
The second aspect of the scheme is related to the testing network for the diagnosis of diseases. Under this mission, the necessary infrastructure will be developed for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. 730 districts of the country will get Integrated Public Health labs and 3 thousand blocks will get Block Public Health Units. Apart from that, 5 Regional National Centers for Disease Control, 20 Metropolitan units, and 15 BSL labs will further strengthen this network. (specific data is not that important)
The Third aspect is the expansion of existing research institutions that study pandemics. Existing 80 Viral Diagnostic and research labs will be strengthened, 15 Biosafety level 15 labs will be operationalised, 4 new National institutes of Virology and a National Institute for One Health are being established.
Thank you,
Atish Mathur