Taking cue from the rapid surge in new Omicron variant cases in various countries and in India where tally has touched to 73, an alarmed Center has asked the States and Union Territories to monitor their availability of oxygen supply, equipment, ventilators and concentrators among other things on a daily basis to ensure that there is absolute preparedness to tackle any rise in the number of infections.
In India, Omicron cases are gradually inching up. From 25 on December 4, the cases have risen to 73 with more States coming into its grip. In the wake of the rapid spread of the ‘super-variant’, Omicron, Maharashtra recorded 32 cases till Wednesday — the highest in the country — prompting the state government to extend the Covid-safety curbs in Mumbai till December 31 with new rules. Rajasthan was second on the list with 17 cases.
In a review meeting with the states and UTs on Wednesday, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised states to ensure the gap between equipment and systems delivered to the districts and installed at the healthcare facilities is reduced to zeroStates have also been asked to conduct mock drills of all installed and commissioned PSA plants to ensure that they are fully operational so that oxygen of required quantity, pressure and purity reaches the intended patients at their bedside. These drills are to be completed by the end of December, the health ministry said.
Uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen in sufficient quantity is of critical importance to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre said.
While equipment and systems have been sanctioned and delivered, in many states these have not been sent to district health facilities and when delivered, some have not been made functional, Bhushan said.
State nodal officers were requested to streamline coordination with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (HITES) and Central Medical Services Society (CMSS) for resolution of electricityrelated and site- related issues for ensuring quick operationalisation of the entire medical oxygen supply infrastructure supplied to them.
So far, a total of 3,236 PSA plants have been installed in the country from various sources with a total commissioned oxygen capacity of 3,783 MT. Moreover, 1,14,000 oxygen concentrators are being provided to states under PM-CARES (1 lakh) and 14,000 from Emergency Covid Relief Package (ECRP-II), the government said.
It was also pointed out that ECRP-II funds have been sanctioned to them for installation of 958 LMO storage tanks and medical gas pipeline systems in 1,374 hospitals.