No deaths resulting from lack of oxygen have been particularly reported by states and UTs in the course of the second COVID-19 wave, the federal government knowledgeable Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
But there was an unprecedented surge in demand for medical oxygen in the course of the second wave and it peaked at almost 9000 MT in comparison with 3095 MT within the first wave following which the Centre needed to step in to facilitate equitable distribution among the many states, it mentioned.
Responding to a query on whether or not a big quantity of COVID-19 sufferers died on roads and hospitals resulting from acute scarcity of oxygen within the second wave, Minister of State for Health Bharati Praveen Pawar famous that well being is a state topic and states and UTs often report the quantity of circumstances and deaths to the Centre.
“Detailed pointers for reporting of deaths have been issued by the Union Health Ministry to all states and UTs.
“Accordingly, all states and UTs report cases and deaths to the Union Health Ministry on a regular basis. However, no deaths due to lack of oxygen have been specifically reported by states and UTs,” Pawar mentioned in a written reply.
The Government of India has supported the states and undertook a collection of actions together with provisioning medical oxygen, and different consumables to make sure scientific care of COVID-19 sufferers in view of the steep rise of COVID-19 trajectory within the nation throughout April- May 2021.
On the entire demand of oxygen by the states and complete oxygen provided, the ministry mentioned the provision of medical oxygen to hospitals is set by contractual preparations between the hospital and the medical oxygen provider involved.
“However, resulting from unprecedented surge in demand of medical oxygen in the course of the second wave the demand within the nation peaked to just about 9000 MT as in comparison with 3095 MT in the course of the first wave the central authorities needed to step in to facilitate equitable distribution to the states.
“A dynamic and transparent framework for allocation of medical oxygen in consultation with states and UTs and all the stakeholders such as relevant ministries, manufacturers/suppliers of liquid oxygen, etc. was prepared,” the written reply said.
The lively caseload of the state and UT was the first determinant of oxygen allocation. Other elements reminiscent of case doubling price, accessible medical infrastructure, and many others. have been additionally given due consideration.
Further, the allocation was stored dynamic as per the altering pandemic load.
The first allocation order was issued on fifteenth April 2021 and revised occasionally, primarily based on the traits of lively circumstances and provide place. A complete allocation of 10,250 MT has been finished to 26 excessive burden states as on May 28, 2021, the reply mentioned.
The Government of India, together with the state governments, took all potential steps to sort out the unprecedented surge in oxygen demand that arose within the second wave of COVID-19.
This consists of enhancement of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) manufacturing from 5700 MTs in August 2020 to 9690 MTs in May 2021, restrictions on industrial use of oxygen; and augmentation of availability of containers.
A dynamic and clear framework for allocation of medical oxygen in session with states and UTs and all of the stakeholders reminiscent of related Ministries, producers/suppliers of liquid oxygen, and many others. was ready.
Also, on-line digital options viz. Oxygen Demand Aggregation system (ODAS) and Oxygen Digital Tracking System (ODTS) have been developed to establish the demand for medical oxygen from all medical amenities and to trace their transportation.
Further, to keep away from wastage of medical oxygen, pointers on rational use of oxygen have been issued on twenty fifth September 2020. These have been additional revised and disseminated to States on twenty fifth April 2021.
The states have been additionally supplied with oxygen tools reminiscent of oxygen cylinders, concentrators and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen era crops. A complete of 4,02,517 oxygen cylinders have been procured or are being procured and distributed to the states.
As many as 1,222 PSA Oxygen era crops have been sanctioned. Out of these, as on fifteenth July 2021, 237 crops have been commissioned.
Apart from this, 295 PSA crops are being put in by completely different ministries, the minister mentioned.
States have additionally been requested to organize state-level oxygen era crops.
To improve the storage capability of liquid medical oxygen within the states, beneath the emergency COVID Package-Part-II, 1050 Liquid Medical Oxygen Tanks together with MGPS at a price of Rs. 80 Lakh every have been accepted.
