WEB DESK
Government is continuously engaged in supplying of medical oxygen to the States and Union Territories. The Central Government has said that the government has taken series of steps to ensure the supply of medical oxygen for the treatment of Covid patients in the hospitals.
Briefing the media in New Delhi today, Joint Secretary in Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said, over eight thousand 593 metric tonnes of medical oxygen have been allocated to 23 States so far. He said, 52 Pressure Swing Adsorption plants have already been installed which will enable hospitals for generation of oxygen. He added that order for one lakh 27 thousand oxygen cylinders has already been placed which are going to be delivered in a few days. Mr. Agarwal has informed that efforts are being made to import three thousand 500 metric tonnes of medical oxygen from the various countries. He also informed that efforts have also been made to increase the availability of oxygen tankers. Amid the high demand of medical oxygen in the Hospitals, the central government has advised the States to ensure rational use of oxygen. States have also been advised to undertake oxygen consumption audit in the Hospitals.
Additional Secretary in Home Ministry has said, daily production of medical oxygen has been ramped up to nine thousand metric tonnes from the level of six thousand metric tonnes within a span of nine months. He said, seven thousand 500 metric tonnes are being supplied to States on a daily basis. He assured that sufficient stocks of liquid oxygen are available in the country.
Over the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country, Mr. Agarwal said, several states and union territories are registering higher number of cases which has put burden on the health infrastructure. He said, the country is witnessing the second wave of Covid pandemic and States have been asked to strictly implement the guidelines and protocols to contain the spread of corona virus.
Giving the details of the vaccination programme, Mr. Agarwal said, so far, 15 crore 22 lakh doses of Covid vaccines have been administered to the beneficiaries. Of this, 11 crore 75 crore doses have been inoculated to the beneficiaries aged above 45 years. On the alleged shortage of vaccines in the country, Mr. Agarwal said, third phase of vaccination is going to start from tomorrow for the people aged between 18 to 44 years. He said, vaccines will be administered to the people in some states and the process will gain momentum in the coming days. On the availability of Remdesivir, he said, production has been ramped up four to five times.