Need to ensure faster transportation of medical oxygen to states: PM

States should come down heavily on hoarding, said Modi at a high-level meeting to review medical oxygen supply across the country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there is a need to ensure faster transportation of medical oxygen to the states as he chaired a high-level meeting to review supply across the country and discussed ways and means to boost its availability. 

PM spoke about the need to work rapidly on multiple aspects: increasing production of oxygen, increasing the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities.

During the meeting, officials briefed him on the efforts undertaken in the last few weeks to improve the supply of oxygen. The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Home Secretary and other senior officials.

Officers informed the PM that they are working together with the states to operationalise the sanctioned PSA oxygen plants as soon as possible.

It was discussed that Railways is being used for rapid and non-stop long distance transport of tankers. First rake has reached from Mumbai to Vizag to transport 105 MT of liquid medical oxygen. Similarly, empty oxygen tankers are also being air-lifted to oxygen suppliers to reduce one way journey time in oxygen supply.

Modi directed the officials to ensure that oxygen supply to various states happen in a smooth, unhindered manner. He spoke about the need to fix responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction. He also asked ministries to explore various innovative ways to increase production and supply of oxygen.

PM was informed that an elaborate exercise is being done in co-ordination with the states to identify their demand for oxygen and ensure adequate supply accordingly. He stressed that the states should come down heavily on hoarding.

PM was briefed on how oxygen supply to states is steadily increasing. Against the present demand from 20 states of 6,785 MT a day of liquid medical oxygen, Centre has allocated 6,822 MT a day to these states from April 22.

It was noted that in the last few days, availability of liquid medical oxygen has been increased by about 3,300 MT a day with contributions from private and public steel plants, industries, oxygen manufacturers as well as through prohibition of supply of oxygen for non-essential industries.

Various measures are being undertaken to rapidly increase the availability of cyrogenic tankers through conversion of nitrogen and argon tankers, import and airlifting of tankers as well as manufacturing them.

Representatives from the medical community also spoke about the need for judicious use of oxygen and how an audit in some states has decreased oxygen demand without affecting the condition of patients.