MUMBAI: To prepare for a possible third Covid wave, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assistance on timely and adequate supply of life-saving items for Covid treatment and requested him to frame a national policy to stop crowding due to religious, social and political events.
Additional liquid medical oxygen supply, capping the cost of the drug cocktail that seems to be working against Covid, and enhancing vaccine supply to try to ward off the third wave or bring down its severity were on the wish-list that Thackeray, attending a video conference with Modi along with CMs of five other states, presented.
He also suggested setting up excellence centres for post-Covid treatment. These would help people who have recovered from Covid, but continue to have lingering health issues.
Maharashtra is projected to require 4,000MT of oxygen daily, if a third wave hits. The state has scaled up its production to 2,000MT from around 1,200MT and it will be a great help if the remaining 2,000 MT is allotted from nearby sites -- like Bhilai, Jamnagar or Bellary steel plant, Thackeray said. During the second wave, the state was allotted additional oxygen, but from Odisha and Tamil Nadu leading to delays.
Thackeray also demanded that the Centre should cap the cost of the monoclonal antibody treatment --- one that Donald Trump got --- that is proving effective but costs between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 per dose. “Even if 50,000 patients were to get the drug in the third wave, it will cost Rs 300 crore. The Centre should take steps to bring down the price,” said Thackeray.
The state also sought increased vaccine supply, especially in the 10 districts where cases are on the rise. There are 2 crore eligible beneficiaries in these districts who need to be fully vaccinated at the earliest to bring down that spread. Thackeray briefed Modi about the Covid situation in the state and the measures put in place to handle the third wave, especially to ensure that industry production and operations are not affected.
Finally, he expressed concerns about increasing crowds in public places for tourism, and religious or social reasons. “This is not only happening in Maharashtra, but everywhere. Revenge tourism, revenge shopping has led to people running out of their houses. The state is trying to stop this, but even at the central level, a comprehensive policy is required,” said Thackeray.
