At a high-level meeting chaired by PM Modi, it was also decided that basic customs duty on import of Covid vaccines be exempted for 3 months. PM stressed all ministries and departments need to work in synergy to up availability of oxygen and medical supplies. Govt says the above decisions will boost availability of these items as well as make them cheaper. The PM directed the revenue department to ensure seamless and quick custom clearance of such equipment.
Modi, emphasised that there was an immediate need to augment the supply of medical grade oxygen as well as equipment required for patient care both at home and in hospitals. The Defence Ministry informed on Friday that 23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany as several states have been gasping due to shortage of medical oxygen amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases. Fresh cases once again touched a new peak of 3.46 lakh in a single day in India while deaths hit a grim new record of 2,600 on Friday. India has now reported close to a million new cases (9.94 lakh) in just three days, while Friday was also the fourth day in a row in which India reported more than 2,000 deaths in 24 hours.