Statue of Unity: The 14th conference of Central Council of Health and Family Welfare held at the Statue of Unity fame Ekta Nagar in Gujarat rejected the estimates of excess deaths during covid-19 pandemic period published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 5th May.

The conference in its resolution stated – ‘CCHFW is deeply disappointed and distressed by WHO’s modelling based exorbitant estimates of excess mortality in the country during the pandemic phase.’

It further stated – ‘These estimates drawn from flawed mathematical assumptions are unacceptable, in view of the fact that India counts deaths due to all causes systematically through a transparent and legal process.’

The conference noted – ‘India has a robust, legally mandated, comprehensive system of death registration under the “Registration of Births and Death Act 1969”. Under the Act, States/ UTs report and document actual number of deaths counts of India.’

‘India mounted a pre-emptive, proactive, comprehensive and science driven response to covid pandemic as a whole of Government and whole of nation effort under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Union government along with state governments and UT administrations have worked as one “Team India” in this mission through a Jan Andolan (peoples’ movement) approach. India’s achievement of administering almost 190 cores of doses of covid vaccine across length and breadth of the country is a spectacular achievement of the people of India.’

The Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, set up under Article 263 of the Constitution, enables consideration and recommendation of broad lines of policy in regard to matters concerning health and family welfare. DeshGujarat