New Delhi: There has been increasing demand for medical oxygen, especially from the 12 states with high burden of active COVID cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) disclosed here today. These states are Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. While the demand in Maharashtra is expected to beyond available production capacity of the state, states like Madhya Pradesh do not even have any production capacity to meet their demand for medical oxygen.
Respectively 4880 MT, 5619 MT and 6593 MT have been indicated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand as on April 20, 25 and 30. Besides, the government also acknowldeged that there is a trend of increasing demand in other oxygen producing states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan.
Acknowledging that medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of COVID affected patients, the government today decided to float a tender for import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen. The MOHFW has been directed to finalise the tender for the same and also explore possible sources for import identified by the missions of MEA. The decision was taken today in a meeting of Empowered Group 2 (EG2) to review the availability of essential medical equipment and oxygen during COVID. Accordingly, MOHFW is issuing orders in this regard and the same would be notified by Ministry of Home Affairs.
The EG2 also directed MOHFW to identify another 100 hospitals in far flung locations for consideration of sanction for installation of Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plants that manufacture oxygen. PSA plants help hospitals become self-sufficient in their requirement for medical oxygen while also reducing the burden on the national grid for supply of medical oxygen. The EG2 stated that 162 PSA plants sanctioned under PM-Cares are being closely reviewed for early completion of 100 per cent of the plants to enhance self-generation of oxygen in hospitals especially in remote areas.
– global bihari bureau
