In order to address the acute shortage of medical oxygen in the wake of the frightening second COVID-19 wave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday ordered setting up of 551 oxygen plants inside government hospitals across the country. PM CARES Fund will provide financial aid in setting up these plants.
PMO also directed that these plants should made operational as soon as possible as they will act as a major boost to oxygen availability at the district level.
Oxygen is an important element used in the treatment of certain medical conditions which arise due to the Covid-19 infection.
According to the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the plants will be established in identified government hospitals and the procurement will be done through ministry of health and family welfare.
“The basic aim behind establishing PSA oxygen generation plants at government hospitals in the district headquarters is to further strengthen the public health system and ensure that each of these hospitals has a captive oxygen generation facility.
It added that the in-house oxygen generation facility would address “day to day medical oxygen needs of these hospitals and the district”.
It also added that the liquid medical oxygen would serve as a top-up to the captive oxygen generation.
“Such a system will go a long way in ensuring that government hospitals in the districts do not face sudden disruption of oxygen supplies and have access to adequate uninterrupted oxygen supply to manage the COVID-19 patients and other patients needing such support,” the PMO said.
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The PMO said the PM CARES fund had earlier this year allocated Rs 201.58 crore for installation of additional 162 dedicated PSA Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities in the country.
