In the wake of the Covid surge globally, the Centre on Saturday urged states and union territories to ensure the availability of Liquid Medical Oxygen, adequate inventory of cylinders and functional life support equipment such as ventilators at hospitals to face any challenge.
Dr Manohar Agnani, additional chief secretary (Health) has written to the states to be prepared for any challenges.
The health ministry asked them to ensure Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen-generating plants are kept fully functional and regular mock drills are conducted to check them.
Operationalisation and maintenance of these medical infrastructures are of utmost importance to meet any eventuality even though the number of cases in the country is low now, it said.
"Medical oxygen is an important vital resource in all clinical settings, particularly during pandemic management. Reliable oxygen supply is critical for saving lives during patient care and Covid-19 management," the advisory read.
The ministry holds review meetings with all states and UTs to ensure that all these medical oxygen equipment are well set up and functioning properly.
The government's advisory also said PSA (pressure swing adsorption) plants are to be kept fully functional and regular mock drills should be done to check them.
"Though the Covid cases in the country are low and not surging as of now, to face any challenges arising in future, the operationalisation and maintenance of these medical infrastructures are of utmost importance," the advisory read.
"The availability of Liquid Medical Oxygen in the health facilities and an uninterrupted supply chain for their refilling should be ensured," it read.
An adequate inventory of oxygen cylinders along with backup stocks and a robust refilling system should be maintained. Also, the availability of functional Life Support Equipment such as ventilators, BiPAP and SpO2 systems along with the consumables is there.
Oxygen control rooms should be reinvigorated at states and UTs level for prompt resolutions of oxygen issues and challenges, it said.
-- with PTI inputs