Rajesh Tope, Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Maharashtra has urged FICCI members to aid Maharashtra with tertiary healthcare facilities at the district and taluka levels.

He also sought industry’s assistance in procuring necessary drugs like remdesivir, oxygen concentrators, PSA (Pressure Swing Absorption) nitrogen generators, increasing liquid oxygen storage capacities, among others. He also urged industry members to adopt some of the villages and talukas to help the government in its fight against the virus.

Addressing the virtual interactive session with FICCI Health Industry Delegation, Tope noted that there are various sectors where the industry, through its CSR or philanthropic initiatives, could help the state’s healthcare sector that is currently reeling under severe deficit of healthcare facilities.

He further stated that the state is facing a glaring deficit regarding life-saving essentials during these times. “There is a huge requirement of 10 LPM oxygen concentrators, PSA generators, drugs like remdesivir and vaccines. The industry can help the state by bridging the gap between demand and supply of life-saving essentials,” he noted.

“We urge the industry to come forward with concepts like tele-ICU, where diagnosis and treatment could be done remotely. FICCI can play a vital role here by helping us procure X-Ray, ECG, and dialysis machines, among others, for sub-district hospitals,” he said.

Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Chair, FICCI Maharashtra & CEO, Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions Ltd said that FICCI in the last one year has been playing an active role in collaborating with government and the industry in resolving many bottlenecks that were faced by the industry in operating in these difficult times.

Various industry representatives assured the Minister of the industry’s commitment to help the state during these times.