Quota of oxygen cylinders fixed for private hospitals increased in Chandigarh

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, May 17

The Indian government has fixed the daily quota of 20 MT of medical oxygen for Chandigarh from M/s INOX Barotiwala. 

This medical oxygen is being utilised for GMCH-32, GMSH-16 and the Covid Hospital at Sector 48, Chandigarh.

Considering availability of sufficient oxygen, the quota of oxygen cylinders fixed for private hospitals has been increased.

Private healthcare institutions are also being catered from this quota of oxygen. Additionally, three oxygen generation plants have been commissioned recently in these hospitals.

The private healthcare institutions in Chandigarh also require medical oxygen and they are mostly dependent upon medical oxygen in cylinders. The oxygen cylinders are used by the government hospitals also in ambulances and during shifting the patients from one ward to other.

Considering increase in number of beds in the Covid Wards and ICU and influx of more patients, the consumption of oxygen has suddenly increased.

To ensure smooth supply of oxygen to all the healthcare institutions in Chandigarh, the administration has taken following steps in last few days.

Officers have been stationed at the INOX Plant at Barotiwala, Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

Police escort has been provided to the oxygen tankers from INOX Plant to Chandigarh to reduce the travel time and avoid any untoward incident.

Three private refilling vendors have been authorised for re-filling medical oxygen from the quota of UT Chandigarh.

The rate for re-filling of oxygen cylinders has been fixed at par with the approved rate of GMCH-32.

Officers have been stationed at the premises of the private refilling vendors to ensure that oxygen cylinders are being issued in regulated manner and there is no diversion from the UT quota.

Round the clock police security has been provided at one of the oxygen generation plants in Industrial Area, Chandigarh.

A senior PCS officer has been deputed to see supply of oxygen to private hospitals and daily quota has been fixed for each of the private hospitals in Chandigarh.

Enquiry/audit of some of the private hospitals is going on about the procurement of oxygen cylinders for the period 1.04.2021 to 10.05.2021.

Each of the private hospital has been attached with either the private vendor to avoid confusion and regulate the actual supply in better way.

The voluntary organisations which have come forward to set-up mini-Covid centres have been requested to have own arrangements of oxygen through concentrators.

Online e-permit facility for oxygen cylinders has been provided to those patients who have been prescribed oxygen by the doctors at their homes.

Back-up plans have been prepared to ensure uninterrupted oxygen to the patients in case of any delay arrival of liquid oxygen tanker.

There is co-ordination in Tricity to help each other with liquid oxygen on loan basis in case of any crisis. About one week before, there was some crisis in Panchkula which was taken care by Chandigarh by providing 3 MT oxygen on loan basis. The same quantity was returned by the Panchkula the next day.

A team of senior doctors from GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 have visited private hospitals and government hospitals. The purpose of the visit was to educate and sensitise them for optimum utilisation of oxygen, which is a precious commodity. A considerable amount of oxygen has been saved by ensuring following:

(i)There is no leakage in the oxygen pipelines and outlets.

(ii)Oxygen valves are not left open sometimes

Oxygen masks are fitted property over the face of the patients.

(iii)The guidelines to maintain the saturation at 94 instead of 100 are followed.

(iv)Flow of oxygen is correct as per the requirement of the patients.