MIM To Start Covid-19 Helpline, Oxygen Bank

MIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi today lashed out at the BJP-led Centre, alleging that it had failed to control the spread of Covid-19 in India.

Speaking to the media, he claimed that the union government's failure to make and implement comprehensive plans in a timely fashion had resulted in the current public health emergency that the nation was facing.

The MIM leader also demanded that the Centre immediately reduce the GST being levied on Covid-19 medication to make the same more accessible to patients across the country.

Further, he also demanded that the TRS government build a new hospital on the Osmania General Hospital premises to battle the shortage of Covid-19 treatment facilities in the state.

Owaisi then announced that the MIM would be providing a relief package of Rs 1.4 crore to the state to help it fight the ongoing pandemic.

Outlining the way in which the funds were to be used, he said that they would be used to set up a Covid-19 helpline and an oxygen bank for the public.

"A function hall near Habibnagar has been turned into a Covid-19 help centre. The people of Telangana will be able to use our helpline to contact doctors. They will be able to help patients and guide their caregivers as well. A portion of the relief funds will also be used to procure medical kits which will be distributed to economically disadvantaged patients. As for the oxygen bank, we have already procured 200 big oxygen cylinders and 50 small cylinders for patients under home care. People can also bring in their own empty oxygen cylinders to get them refilled," the MP added.

A MIM statement revealed that 25 doctors would work from six in the morning till noon to provide telephonic assistance to patients.