100 new hospitals to have their own oxygen plant under PM-CARES fund: Govt

NEW DELHI: Union Health Ministry has said that 100 Hospitals in the country will have their own Oxygen plants under Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Empowered Group 2 (EG2) which was held yesterday to review the availability of essential medical equipment and oxygen during COVID. The Ministry said, Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants manufacture oxygen and help hospitals become self-sufficient in medical oxygen.

The Empowered Group 2 has directed the Health Ministry to identify 100 hospitals in far flung locations for consideration of sanction for installation of PSA plants.

The Health Ministry in a statement said that Medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of COVID patients. There has been increasing demand for medical oxygen, especially from states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

AIR correspondent reports that in view of increasing demand for medical oxygen, the Empowered Group has also decided to float a tender for import of 50 thousand Metric Tonnes of medical oxygen. The Health Ministry has been directed to finalise the tender. It has also been asked to explore possible sources for import identified by the missions of Ministry of External Affairs. The Empowered Group 2 is monitoring the situation of demand and supply of medical oxygen continuously to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to support the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen.