12-member NTF to streamline oxygen allocation to States, ensure availability of essential drugs
In a clear disapproval of the way the Centre handled the Covid-19 situation, specially the oxygen shortage crisis in the country’s hospitals, the Supreme Court on Saturday formed a 12-members National Task Force (NTF) to streamline oxygen allocation to different States, review and suggest measures to ensure availability of essential drugs and medicines, and adopt remedial measures to ensure preparedness for future emergencies.
The NTF which literally took over the existing work of Union Health Ministry and other Ministries like Home Ministry is comprised of 10 reputed doctors of the country. The Union Health Secretary will act as Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary or an officer in the rank of Additional Secretary or above will act as convener of the NTF.
As per the order passed by Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah, the 10 members in the NTF are Dr Bhabatosh Biswas, former Vice Chancellor, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata; Dr Devender Singh Rana, chairperson, Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi; Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, chairperson and Executive Director, Narayana Healthcare, Bengaluru; Dr Gagandeep Kang, Professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu; Dr JV Peter, Director, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu; Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairperson and Managing Director, Medanta Hospital and Heart Institute, Gurugram; Dr Rahul Pandit, Director, Critical Care Medicine and ICU, Fortis Hospital, Mulund (Mumbai, Kalyan); Dr Saumitra Rawat, Chairman & Head, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi; Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, Senior Professor and Head of Department of Hepatology, Director, ILBS, Delhi; Dr Zarir F Udwadia, Consultant Chest Physician, Hinduja Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and Parsee General Hospital, Mumbai.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled on May 17.
Explaining the rationale behind setting up the NTF, the apex Court said the establishment of such a task force will enable the decision makers to have inputs which go beyond finding ad-hoc solutions to present problems. The order also said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has appraised the Bench about the consent of Central Government and its members on the formation of the NTF.
The likely future course of the pandemic must be taken into contemplation at the present time. This, the court emphasised, will ensure that projected future requirements can be scientifically mapped in the present and may be modulated in light of experience.
“Estimating projected needs is crucial to ensure that the country remains prepared to meet future eventualities, which will cause a demand for oxygen, medicines, infrastructure, manpower and logistics. The establishment of the Task Force will provide the Union Government with inputs and strategies for meeting the challenges of the pandemic on a transparent and professional basis, in the present and in future,” the order said.
The apex court further said the Task Force would be at liberty to draw upon the human resources of the Union Government for consultation and information, including a member of NITI Aayog to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson; Secretaries from Ministry of Human Affairs; Industries, Transport and Highways, Director of AIIMS, Delhi, DG of ICMR, DG of Health Services, DG of NIC and Head of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
“The concerned Secretaries would be at liberty to nominate officers of the rank of Additional/Joint Secretary to depute on behalf of them. The Task Force is at liberty to formulate its modalities and procedure for working, said the order of the Bench, which literally nipped out the power of the Central Government, which was facing brickbats from the apex court for the past weeks for the chaos in delivery of oxygen to States.
