Several patients infected with the coronavirus are often in need of oxygen during their treatment and the healthcare facilities across Mumbai have ensured adequate availability regarding the same. However, officials are working towards timely oxygen availability for treatment with uninterrupted supply, as this would benefit the patient immediately.
Keeping this in mind, officials have set up control committees at the district, divisional and state levels, along with control rooms, to tackle the issue. In case of emergency, the divisional commissioner has been directed to keep a reserve stock of 50 Dura cylinders and 200 Jumbo cylinders at a central location of each revenue department, and the information regarding this was recently given by Maharashtra Health Minister, Rajesh Tope.
As per reports, necessary measures have been taken by the state government to ensure that patients do not suffer from oxygen deficiency. A meeting regarding the matter was held by the Health Minister via video conference, who discussed the issue with the president of the National Oxygen Producers Association, offering instructions to ensure adequate oxygen supply is available for the patients in the state.
At present, the state has an oxygen requirement of 400 metric tonnes and has a production capacity of 1081 metric tonnes. Around 17,753 jumbo oxygen cylinders, 1547 B type cylinders, 230 Dura cylinders, 14 liquid cryogenic oxygen tanks are available in the state and officials are arranging for more. Divisional Commissioner has been directed to keep a reserve in case of emergency.
Rajesh Tope further added many coronavirus patients in the state need oxygen beds and keeping this in mind, appropriate action is being taken to ensure they are available in each district and municipal area. Officers and healthcare providers in each district have been directed to make a note of the daily oxygen requirement at all the hospitals under their jurisdiction.
A committee has been set up in each district under the chairmanship of the District Collector to control the supply of oxygen. The committee includes officials from the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Industry, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Health. A similar committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner to coordinate the supply of oxygen. At the state level, a committee of Food and Drug Administration, Department of Industries and Transport has been set up along with the Commissioner of Health Services.
Oxygen bottling plants, as well as wholesale suppliers of oxygen, are listed at the district level. The Food and Drug Administration has appointed district wise nodal officers and their contact numbers have been given to the districts to ensure smooth supply of oxygen.
At the district level, the responsibility for the supply of oxygen has been given to the control room which was earlier set up for monsoon, under disaster management department. These control rooms will remain open until December 31, 2020. Furthermore, a control room has been set up at the state level through the Food and Drug Administration, and one can contact the same at 022-26592364 or at the toll free number 1800222365.
All public hospitals with 100 or more beds in the state have been directed to set up cryo oxygen tanks and funds for the same can be received from the District Planning and Development Council or State Disaster Management Fund or through Corporate Social Responsibility. Information regarding the same has been given, informed the health minister.