Rajasthan has 1,000 metric tonnes of oxygen for daily use in case Covid hits: Govt | Jaipur News
While the Centre has alerted state for tackling Omicron BF.7’s looming threat in China and some other countries reporting surge in Covid-19 cases, the health department conducted mock drill on Tuesday to assess its Covid-19 preparedness and found it as ‘self-sufficient’ in oxygen availability for medical use.
Over the past one year, the oxygen producing capacity in the state has increased by almost 2.5 times. “We had an arrangement of 400 MTs of oxygen at the time of the second wave of Covid-19, now we have an arrangement of daily production of 1,000 metric tonnes, sufficient for dealing with any emergency situation due to Covid-19,” Dr Prithvi Raj, health secretary, told TOI.
During the second wave, the state had limited options, which included 120 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) from Bhiwadi’s Inox plant and 180 MT was available, which was produced by private players. While 100 MT, the government had made arrangements from other sources. Hardly any PSA plant was functional in the state in government hospitals before Covid-19 pandemic as the hospitals had to depend on oxygen supply from private firms.
Since then, the situation has changed as 511 PSA have been commissioned, making the state ‘self-sufficient’ in oxygen production. “We have more than enough oxygen production now. Most of the PSA plants have been kept on standby mode, just like we keep fire extinguishers to use in case of fire,” said Dr Prithvi.
However, he pointed out that as of now the PSA plants are all functional and ready to use but in future, there will be a need for its proper maintenance and care.
The health department has made arrangements to monitor the functioning of the plants. “Directions have already been issued to the hospitals to conduct mock drills of PSA plants every month in the first week. Currently, all the plants are functional, and we have enough oxygen production to deal with any rise in demand of oxygen,” said Dr Prem Singh, nodal officer (oxygen), health department.
Out of 511 PSA plants, 51 were provided by the Centre under PM Cares, while 92 were provided by donors, 34 were provided by MP-MLA from their local area development funds, while the rest of them were provided by the state government through national health mission and other government agencies.
