Page 19 - Insurance Times September 2020

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India's mortality rate low- second day of discussion on the pan- World Health Organization and global
demic and steps taken by the Centre, organisations," he said.
est, govt aims to bring it Vardhan said deaths in India due to the Replying to Congress member Anand
down to below 1%: pandemic are less than many European Sharma's question - on how the govern-

Vardhan countries and the government is deter- ment had deduced that the nationwide
mined to better the testing rate of the lockdown prevented approximately 14-
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said US. He said there are chances that a
the government aims to bring down vaccine could come in the country 29 lakh Covid-19 cases and 37,000-
India's Covid-19 mortality rate to less early next year but until then it is nec- 78,000 deaths in the country - Vardhan
than 1 per cent from the current 1.64 essary for people to follow physical dis- said the government had derived the
per cent, which, he mentioned, is still tancing norms and wear masks. figures from the findings of five scien-
the lowest in the world. tific bodies, including the Boston Con-
"We want to bring it (mortality rate) sulting Group, PHFI and the Ministry of
Replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha, to less than 1 per cent. We have 50 Statistics and Programme Implementa-
Vardhan said the country's recovery lakh cases right now but out of these, tion. "These agencies did five studies
rate of 78-79 per cent is one of the only 10 lakh are active cases," Vardhan and based on that we prepared this
highest in the world, and although to- said. data," he said.
tal cases may have crossed 50 million,
active cases are less than 20 per cent. On development of a vaccine, he said
the Science and Technology Ministry, Covid warrior cover ex-
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha ICMR and drug companies have come
Ghulam Nabi Azad, meanwhile, noted together for a solution. This matter, he tended by six months
that several countries have already added, is being personally monitored The Centre has extended the Rs. 50-
secured favourable commitment for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. lakh insurance cover to frontline health
supply of a Covid-19 vaccine, and India "Vaccines can come in future. Exten- workers fighting Covid-19 for another
should be well placed to get the vac- sive planning is underway to execute six months, a Health Ministry state-
cine at an "affordable price" and at an how to manage the scenario, " ment said.
"early stage" through a mechanism Vardhan said. The 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
such as pooled procurement. Package Insurance Scheme for Health
He said there are three vaccine candi-
However, Azad cautioned, the govern- dates which have reached phase one, Workers Fighting Covid-19' was an-
ment should be extra "cautious" about two or phase three level. "Under the nounced on March 30 initially for 90
the quality, safety and efficacy of a Prime Minister, an expert group is days, but was extended for another 90
new vaccine, as any long-term side- studying this. We expect that by the days till September 25. This has now
effects would impact a country with a beginning of next year we can have a extended by another 180 days, the
large and young population. vaccine in the country. In this regard statement said.
In his reply to the Upper House on the we are also coordinating with the The scheme provides an insurance

16 The Insurance Times, September 2020