Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy today said that the Centre was committed to providing vaccinations to every citizen of the country, and once again reiterated that there was no shortage of beds, vaccines, oxygen or other Covid-19 treatment facilities in Telangana.
Speaking after visiting the ESI Hospital and Medical College in Secunderabad, the minister said, "There is no shortage of oxygen, vaccines, beds or other treatment facilities at the TIMS and the ESI. The Centre, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is trying its best not only to ensure that every state has adequate supplies of Covid-19 treatment materials but also to raise awareness among the people on Covid-appropriate behaviour as case figures continue to surge across the nation."
"While the ESI has 770 beds, including 300 for Covid-19 patients, there are 600 beds and 700 Remdesivir injections available at the TIMS. The Centre has also arranged for 200 ventilators for the TIMS. We are taking every step necessary to address the shortage of treatment facilities of every kind and are also importing materials from Singapore, Germany and various other countries. Currently, the Centre is also working to ensure that every citizen can get vaccinated at the earliest. To bolster our efforts and help us to beat the pandemic, however, we need the support of the public. I would therefore appeal to the people of Telangana and the nation to follow all the required safety protocols. Among these, mask-wearing should be one that nobody should neglect," Reddy added.
To make his point, the BJP leader also highlighted the fact that the Modi regime had recently sanctioned 551 PSA oxygen generation plants in public health facilities at all the district headquarters across the states, including
in Telangana, under the PM-CARES, to address all oxygen shortage issues.
He then urged the various state governments of the country not to blame the Centre for the shortage of vaccines or medical oxygen, and asked them to use their disaster management funds to resolve any supply problems.
Reddy's clarifications come at a time when the Modi government has been drawing
immense flak for its handling of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.