COVID-19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delegates emergency financial powers to AFMS
![](https://thenortheasttoday.com/static/c1e/client/86477/uploaded/3e8f7fd9ed7b087604ba326c8dffa96a.jpg)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday approved delegation of emergency financial powers to Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) to fight the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.
As per the notification issued on April 23, emergency financial powers to procure funds have been delegated to the Director-General Medical Services of Army, Navy, Air Force, head of Medical Branches at Formation/Command Headquarters of Army/Navy/Air Force/Andaman & Nicobar Command and Joint Staff including Command Medical Officers of Navy and Principal Medical Officers of Air Force (Major General and equivalent/Brigadiers and equivalent ranks).
The emergency medical powers have been delegated under Sl No 8.1 of Schedule 8 of Medical Schedule of Powers (MSP) to Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS) 2016.
Under the emergency medical powers delegated to the officers, the above-ranked defence officials can seek funds to expedite procurement of medical items, materials, stores and provisioning of various services for treatment, management, and tackling of COVID-19 cases.
Further, powers to these lower CFAs have been delegated up to September 30, 2021, with a provision for revision/extension of the same.
The move is a pro-active measure taken by the Ministry of Defence to enable AFMS to render medical services to the personnel of the Armed Forces as well as aid the civil administration.
TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.
ALSO READ: Centre seeks IAF's intervention in COVID-19 relief operations