In Kangra, oxygen cylinder regulators in short supply
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, May 13
There is a shortage of oxygen cylinder regulators with flow meters and humidifiers in Kangra district. Sources say that the health authorities with the help of philanthropists have procured enough oxygen cylinders for the existing bed capacity of Covid hospitals in Kangra but there are not enough regulators fitted with flow meters and humidifiers.
They say that the health authorities are trying to procure regulators through which oxygen can be supplied to two patients at a time from one cylinder. The authorities believe that as the number of patients requiring oxygen due to Covid is increasing every day, they may not be able to procure enough cylinders. If a sufficient number of regulators for oxygen cylinders are procured, the problem of cylinder shortage can also be sorted out.
The sources say that the district administration is unable to procure oxygen regulators because of its acute shortage in the country. The administration has urged the state government for help in procuring oxygen regulators. It has also requested ministers in the state government and Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur for help to procure or import oxygen regulators.
They say that generally oxygen regulators are imported. These days, several countries have banned commercial flights from India and so the import of oxygen cylinder regulators is proving to be difficult.
Besides, there is a shortage of cylinder regulators in Una and Chamba districts as well. The sources say that regulators are not available in markets as many people are keeping oxygen support systems at their homes. Earlier, only hospitals or industries used these regulators.
Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati admits that there is a shortage of oxygen cylinder regulators in the district. He says that the government is trying to procure regulators and he hopes that these will be available with the Kangra health authorities at the earliest.
He says that the bed capacity in the district has been raised to above 500. “There is enough supply of oxygen and oxygen cylinders in the district. However, if the number of Covid patients increases, the present supply might prove to be insufficient,” he added.
