Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed today on the government’s plans to procure medical-grade oxygen to fill the demand-supply deficit in the wake of a nationwide outbreak of coronavirus. PM Modi recommended that the production of medical oxygen be scaled up according to the capability of each plant at a review meeting attended by senior officials from several ministries, according to a government statement.
For the second day in a row, India registered over 2 lakh coronavirus cases. Several states, including the worst-affected Maharashtra, have reported a shortage of medical oxygen as a result of the Covid surge’s huge demand.
PM Modi’s evaluation comes a day after the Centre listed 12 states as having a strong Covid “burden,” including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. On April 20, April 25, and April 30, these states will receive 4880 tonnes, 5619 tonnes, and 6593 tonnes of oxygen, respectively, according to a decision made by the center on Thursday.
In addition, the centre has agreed to import oxygen from another country.
EG2 (Empowered Group-2) agreed to issue a tender for the import of 50,000 MT (Metric Tonnes) of medical oxygen in response to rising demand. “The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been directed to finalize the tender for the same, as well as explore potential sources of import found by MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) missions,” read a government statement issued on Thursday.
The government announced that a hundred new hospitals will get their own oxygen plants thanks to funds from the PM-CARES fund.
PM Modi was briefed on the situation at the district level in these states during today’s meeting. At the conference, it was also debated whether excess oxygen supplies in steel plants could be diverted for medical purposes.
PM Modi urged officials to ensure the smooth and unhindered passage of oxygen-carrying tankers around the region.
Because of the increased Covid caseload, the health system around the world is under severe strain. Hospital beds, critical medicines, and medical oxygen are all said to be in limited supply. Disturbing images of Covid patients in ambulances waiting outside hospitals have surfaced in several cities.
About 1,100 people have died as a result of the virus in India as of today.
