NEIGRIHMS, RIMS Imphal get foreign-donated COVID items

NEW DELHI: A total of 24 categories of items, numbering nearly 40 lakhs, have been distributed to 86 institutions in 31 States and Union Territories, informed the MoHF (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare). Among these 86 institutions are two from North East, namely NEIGRIHMS Shillong and RIMS Imphal. As the different tranches are coming in, the Ministry said that the rest of the States and UTs will also be covered in the coming days.

The major categories of equipment include BiPAP Machines, Oxygen (Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen Cylinders, PSA Oxygen Plants, PulseOximeters), Drugs (Flaviparivir and Remdesivir), PPE (Coveralls, N-95 masks and gowns).

The medical items started coming in as donations from different countries after the sudden rise in COVID cases across the different parts of the country, via Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The materials are being given by countries due to the immediate and urgent requirements in different parts of the country.

The MoHF said that the help is ''over and above what the Government of India is already providing, and is thus an additionality for the States and UTs''.

A cell was created in the Ministry under Additional Secretary (Health), MoHFW to coordinate the receipt and allocation of foreign Covid relief material as grants, aid and donations. This cell started functioning on April 26 this year and comprises of one Joint Secretary on deputation from Ministry of Education, two Additional Secretaries level officers from MEA, Chief Commissioner Customs, Economic Advisor from Ministry of Civil Aviation, Technical Advisor Dte. GHS, Representatives from HLL, two Joint Secretaries from MoHFW and Secretary General along with other representatives from IRCS.

Later on, the MoHF said that the supplies coming from private companies and entities are also started routing through the NitiAayog and are being handled by this cell.

The Indian customs is sensitive to the need for availability of COVID-related imports including oxygen and oxygen-related equipment and are working round the clock to fast track and clear the goods on arrival and lead to expeditious clearance within hours.

For the expeditious clearance of these materials on fast-track basis, the goods are given high Priority for clearance by the customs systems for processing over other goods, and nodal officers also get alert on email for monitoring and clearance. Indian customs have waived basic Customs Duty and Health cess on goods identified for fighting COVID.

When imported free of cost and distributed freely, based on the state government certification, IGST is also waived. Further, for import of oxygen concentrators for personal use, IGST has been reduced from 28 per cent to 12 per cent. (IANS)

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