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The severe shortage of medical oxygen (MO) amidst a massive surge in Covid-19 infections pan-India compounds an already grim situation. But it is fully within our resources and skills as a nation to boost supplies: what is required is logistical and societal innovation.
The home ministry notification on ‘uninterrupted supply’ of MO across states, and to divert industrial oxygen output forthwith, is commendable, but not sufficient. Pre-Covid, the demand for MO was barely 700 metric tonnes (MT) per day; it rose to over 2,800 MT daily following the pandemic and is now 5,500 MT/day and rising. But the Empowered Group-II (EG) has averred that domestic production capacity is over 7,100 MT/day. However, it is not sufficient to think in terms of bulk capacity.
Industrial oxygen capacity is concentrated in the eastern region while the demand for MO comes from Maharashtra and Delhi. Oxygen has to be transported, and that traditionally has employed cryogenic containers, of which there is a shortage.
Patients receive oxygen in cylinders. These bottles must be manufactured in sufficient capacity. The shortage of oxygen-carrying cryogenic containers can be offset by transporting truckloads of the bottles, empty ones to the oxygen-producing plants and refilled ones back to where the demand is. What’s needed now is innovative digital solutions and improved logistics to match rising MO demand with supply.
The EG is reportedly floating a tender to import 50,000 MT of MO. Let this go ahead. In tandem, we need measures for local, decentralised production of MO and bottles, apart from a campaign to end hoarding of available oxygen by individuals and institutions. Various companies are chipping in with oxygen and containers. Onsite MO plants at large hospitals can reportedly be built at relatively modest cost. One recent tender for 162 such plants has an outlay of just over `200 crore. The shortage of MO cylinders can be met with creative thinking by startups that make use of available materials and innovative software, if these are challenged to...
Courtesy - The Economic Times.
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