Centre urges States/Uts to direct departments to ensure adequate buffer stock of medical oxygen and reinvigorate oxygen control rooms

The Centre has urged all states and UTs to direct departments concerned to ensure adequate buffer stock of medical oxygen for at least 48 hours and reinvigorate oxygen control rooms.

In a letter to State Health Secretaries, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the emerging scenario calls for immediate measures by states and UTs to ensure optimal availability of medical oxygen at all health facilities. He said private health facilities providing oxygen therapy services may be assessed and their medical oxygen infrastructure capacities need to be explored. Mr. Bhushan said, Liquid Medical Oxygen tanks at the health facilities should be sufficiently filled and uninterrupted supply chain for their refilling should be ensured. He said, health facilities across the country have been strengthened with Pressure Swing Adsorption PSA plants and it is important to ensure that these PSA plants are kept fully functional.

The Health Secretary said, all districts should ensure that oxygen concentrators supplied to them are fully functional and their proper upkeep and maintenance need to be ensured. He said, all higher-level health facilities should have life support equipment including ventilators, BiPAP, SpO2 systems, and associated consumables in sufficient numbers to respond to the emerging needs. He added that all infection prevention protocols should be adopted while using the oxygen delivery devices and equipment at all the health facilities. Mr Bhushan asked states and UTs to ensure optimal use of all oxygen delivery equipment and devices and deployment of adequately trained Human Resources at all facilities.