Arunachal Cabinet decides to outsource COVID-19 testing samples

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government on Friday decided to outsource the testing of COVID-19 samples in order to mitigate the backlog of sample testing in the State.

The State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu while considering that the situation due to the virus would be prolonged, further decided to procure adequate consumables especially, PPE kits and VTM besides procurement of 10 Quattro and 4 duo Truenet machines for ramping up testing facilities.

It was also decided to equip critical entry gates with in situ testing especially, for drivers of essential item vehicles, a statement issued from the CMO said.

Reiterating the need to increase health professionals especially doctors and nurses for core medical field duties, the cabinet approved to engage retired health professionals on contractual basis.

This is the third Cabinet meeting chaired by Khandu in this month to review the preparedness and mitigation plan for COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to facelift the health sector, the Cabinet approved for upgradation of 18 district hospitals and new hospitals for the new districts for an estimated cost of Rs 365 crore to be funded by various funding windows of the Centre with an execution timeline of 24 months. These projects shall be driven by an Empowered Committee headed by Planning & Investment Commissioner with Planning Chief Engineer and Deputy Director of Health Services as members and concerned executing departmental secretaries as special invitee, the statement said.

Appreciating the self-sufficiency plan of basic needs after detailed deliberations, the cabinet approved the proposal for development of 2000 nutritional kitchen garden per legislative constituency.

The Cabinet also decided for development of agriculture farm cluster per legislative constituency with the minor amendment to keep the minimum of 5 hectares land parcel instead of 25 hectares.

The concerned MLAs and Deputy Commissioners of the districts will make the details of the project, the statement added.