Taking into consideration the "unusual surge" in demand and consumption for oxygen in few states due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, the Centre has taken certain measures to increase the production, utilise the surplus stocks and map the necessity of high burden states with oxygen sources.

In a meeting of the empowered group of secretaries related to medical supplies for COVID-19, the accessibility of essential medical equipment and oxygen in this pandemic was reviewed. The current oxygen stocks of India including the industrial oxygen stocks along with the manufacturing plants are above 50,000 metric tonnes.

The empowered group has decided to float a tender for import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen due to increasing demand for medical oxygen.

The government said adequate production capacity of 7,127 MTs oxygen is available in the country, and as required, the surplus oxygen that is available with the steel plants is also utilised. India’s daily oxygen production capacity is 7,127 MT. The total production has been 100% in the past two days. On 12th April, the consumption of medical oxygen was 3,842 MTs, i.e., 54% of the daily production capacity.

An official said that the empowered group is monitoring the current situation of demand and supply of medical oxygen and taking all the necessary steps to support the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen.

The Centre has mapped 12 high burden states with the highest number of active COVID-19 cases. These are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The Centre is working to accelerate completion of 162 oxygen manufacturing plants at hospitals sanctioned under PM-Cares. The Empowered Group has also directed the health ministry to identify more 100 hospitals in far locations for sanction for installation of such oxygen plants.

At present, 4.5% of active COVID-19 cases are on oxygen support, 2.31% are in ICU and 0.46% are on ventilator support. In mid-August 2020, there were 2.43% of active cases on oxygen support while only 1.77% cases were in ICU and 0.25% were on ventilator support.

The Centre has asked the states to use medical oxygen rationally and make sure that there is no wastage of oxygen. The Centre has directed the states to arrange for control rooms to monitor smooth supply of oxygen to the districts as required. Also, review the requirement of oxygen cylinders and tankers.

Source: ET Healthworld