COVID: India to achieve historical feat of administering 1.5 billion vaccine doses today: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in West Bengal's Kolkata.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute. 

Virtually inaugurating the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in West Bengal's Kolkata, PM Modi said, "The country had started the new year with the beginning of vaccination of the youth from 15 to 18 years age group. Today, in the first week of the first month of the year, the country is achieving the historical feat of administering 1.5 billion COVID vaccine doses in less than a year's time."

The Prime Minister further said that the feat is a symbol of the self-reliance of India.

"It is a huge number in terms of statistics. It is not lesser than a surprise for most of the big countries of the world. But it is a symbol of the capability of the 130 crore citizens of India. It is a symbol of self-confidence and self-reliance," he said.

India surpassed the milestone of administering 100 crore COVID vaccine doses in October 2021.

"Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana, more than 2 crore 60 lakh patients have got their free treatment in hospitals across the country," added PM Modi.

"It is estimated that without Ayushman Bharat, the poor and needy would have needed to spend nearly Rs 50,000-60,000 crore on the same treatment. From chemotherapy to radiotherapy to surgery, patients have received all benefits free of cost," he further stated.

"The second campus of CNCI has been built in line with the Prime Minister's vision to expand and upgrade the health facilities in all parts of the country. CNCI was facing a heavy load of cancer patients and a need for expansion was being felt for some time. This need will be fulfilled through the second campus," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said.

The second campus of CNCI has been built at a cost of over Rs 530 crore, out of which around Rs 400 crores have been provided by the Union government and the rest by the West Bengal government, in the ratio of 75:25. 

The campus is a 460 bedded comprehensive cancer center unit with cutting-edge infrastructure for cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment, and care. The campus is equipped with modern facilities like Nuclear Medicine (PET), 3.0 Tesla MRI, 128 slice CT scanner, Radionuclide therapy unit, endoscopy suite, modern brachytherapy units, etc. 

The campus will also work as an advanced cancer research facility and will provide comprehensive care to cancer patients especially those from Eastern and North-Eastern parts of the country.

Earlier, PM Modi tweeted yesterday, "At 1 PM tomorrow, 7th January, I will join the programme to inaugurate the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata. This Institute will augment healthcare capacities in Eastern India and in the Northeast." 

ALSO READ: PM Modi's security breach: Punjab DGP asked cavalcade to return back, say sources

ALSO READ: Modi's 'life threat' gimmick aimed at toppling govt: Punjab CM