Pune: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has ordered 50 thousand antigen test kits for rural areas of Pune district. The funds for procuring these kits will be made available from the district annual budget. This decision has been taken in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Haveli, Khed, Maval, Shirur and Purandar talukas of Pune district.
Pawar has also directed local administration officials to enrol private hospitals in the district in the 'Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana' (MPJAY) scheme which would benefit all COVID-19 patients.
A review meeting of MLAs and MPs from Pune district was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Pawar. Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Dattatraya Bharane, Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, MLC Dr Neelam Gorhe attended the meeting via video conference. Member of Parliament Dr Amol Kolhe, Zilla Parishad President Nirmala Pansare, MLA Dilip Mohite, Ashok Pawar, Sanjay Jagtap, Rahul Kul, Atul Benke, Sunil Tingre, Sunil Shelke, Zilla Parishad Vice President Ranjit Shivtare, Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao, District Collector Ayush Prasad, Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil were also present.
After reviewing the COVID-19 cases count and mortality rate in rural areas as well as the measures taken by the administration, Pawar said, "More hospitals should be included in the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana so that all patients affected by Covid-19 will benefit. The number of patients in Haveli, Khed, Maval, Shirur and Purandar taluka is very high. Everyone should work together to reduce the mortality rate and cases count of Covid-19 in rural areas."
MLA Dilip Walse Patil said, "Emphasis should be laid on increasing the number of beds in COVID Care Centers in each taluka. Efforts should be made to provide reserved beds in Pune city hospitals for critically ill patients coming from rural areas."
MLA Dattatraya Bharane said, "Ambulances, ventilators, oxygenated beds etc should be provided for timely treatment of critically ill patients in rural areas."
MLC Dr Neelam Gorhe said, "In private hospitals, beds should be made available for non-COVID patients having other ailments."
