As several hospitals in Delhi and various other states are facing acute shortage of medical oxygen amid an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases, the Centre on Sunday announced that as many as 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants would be set up across the country.
"Oxygen plants in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability... An important decision that will boost oxygen availability to hospitals and help people across the nation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
Oxygen plants in every district to ensure adequate oxygen availability...
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2021
An important decision that will boost oxygen availability to hospitals and help people across the nation. https://t.co/GnbtjyZzWT
According to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Modi has directed that these plants should be made functional as soon as possible. The prime minister also said that these plants would serve as a major boost to oxygen availability at the district level.
According to PMO, these dedicated plants will be established in identified government hospitals in district headquarters in various states and Union Territories. The procurement will be done through Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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
“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. Such an in-house captive oxygen generation facility would address the day to day medical oxygen needs of these hospitals and the district,” it said.
In addition, the PMO said, the liquid medical oxygen (LMO) 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 release said.
