Punjab government announces Rs 50 lakh insurance cover for front line cops and sanitation workers
The Punjab Government on Saturday announced a special health insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs each for the police personnel and sanitation workers in the frontline of the battle against coronavirus. Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also authorized the Procurement Committed headed by ACS Vini Mahajan to do quick price discovery for all purchases related to coronavirus management and containment, and make purchases on urgent basis.
Meanwhile, the committee has been authorized to make spot purchases and exigency procurements, bypassing normal procedures, in the exercise of emergency powers under the National Disaster Management ACT 2005. The Cabinet also allowed the Procurement Committee to procure essential and emergent medical items at prevalent market prices as the same had risen substantially due to widespread demands amid Coronavirus Management.
The Chief Minister has also directed that no bureaucratic hassles should be allowed to come in the way of any urgent purchases. The Cabinet has also decided on strict action against such hospitals, with the Chief Minister suggesting that the health department should cancel the licenses of hospitals refusing to treat coronavirus patients. Chief Minister said that they cannot go into hiding at such a critical time.
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During a Video Conference to review the current situation in the state, the Council of Ministers decided that the arrangements to manage coronavirus patients should be scaled up gradually to cater to a larger number of patients Meanwhile, it was further decided that a contingency plan should be prepared with alternative locations, equipment, and officers to deal with any emergent situation.
-PTC News
