Centre steps up efforts to ensure availability of medical oxygen

Thiruvananthapuram: After seeing several countries facing problem due to lack of medical oxygen, the Indian government is making all possible efforts to ensure that there is ample availability of medical oxygen to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to ANI, Dr R Venugopal, Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives, c (PESO), said that a monitoring mechanism has already been set up by the Centre to address the issue.

"The monitoring mechanism consisting of Department of Promotion of industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), PESO and the All India Industrial Gas Manufacturers' Association (AIIGMA) is overseeing the situation state wise in this regard. It is being ensured that there is no disruption in the production, transportation and supply of medical oxygen and to maintain production in close coordination with the manufacturers of medical oxygen and cylinders," he said.

In Kerala, there are 19 medical oxygen filling plants, with a total of 3,814 medical oxygen cylinders.

"In Kerala, 2,212 cylinders are filled and 2,086 cylinders are supplied to various hospitals on a daily basis. We have a stock of 1,985 filled cylinders and 1,075 empty cylinders," Dr Venugopal added.

Vinod Kumar, manager, Southern Gas Limited, said they are equipped with the facility for 24-hour production of medical oxygen.

"After the lockdown, we are not producing industrial oxygen but only medical oxygen. If any need arises, we can scale up oxygen production," said Kumar. 

Read also: Coronavirus Outbreak: Govt to grant licence to industrial manufacturers to produce oxygen for medical use