THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: On Friday, the Centre ordered states to elevate all constraints on the movement of medical oxygen connecting them. It is to re-emphasise the importance of oxygen in hospitals for supervising severe COVID-19 patients.
Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare, on Friday averred in a letter to the States/UT’s that sufficient and constant supply of medical oxygen becomes an essential requirement for maintaining moderate and critical cases of COVID-19.
The Union Health Ministry stated, “It has come to the knowledge of the Union health ministry that few states are trying to curb the free inter-state movement of oxygen supplies by exercising provisions under various Acts and also mandating the manufacturers/suppliers located in the state to restrict their oxygen supplies to only the hospitals of the state.”
The health secretary added to demand States and Union Territories to guarantee no constraint on the mobilisation of medical oxygen among them. It has been heavily augmented that every State’s and UT’s commitment enable that every COVID-19 patient admitted in the hospital receives oxygen.
The Centrally led COVID-19 administration policy follows the Standard of Care Treatment Guidelines. These instructions have assured a stable and regulated quality of medical responsibility in all the COVID facilities and hospitals.
For both moderate and critical cases, adequate availability for oxygen support, anti-coagulants and inexpensive corticosteroids is required. Keeping a track with the protocol is deemed to be the strength of COVID-19 treatment.
The Union health ministry said that sufficient supply of oxygen across the country had facilitated efficient clinical attention for both moderate and critical cases, in association with other measures. The adopted guidelines have succeeded in escalating the recovery rate and reduced the fatality case rate (at 1.67% currently). Currently, not more than 3.7% of active cases require oxygen support.
In totality 943,480 active cases stand in the country on 11th September. Maharashtra has the highest number with 260,000 cases, succeeded by Karnataka exceeding 100,000 cases. Approximately 74% of the total active cases are in mostly affected in nine states. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka comprise of more than 48% of the positive cases.
The government stated that medical oxygen is a crucial public health commodity. If there are any obstacles in the movement of medical oxygen in the country, it will severely deteriorate the management of sufferers of COVID-19 in different parts of the country. Furthermore, some of the significant oxygen manufacturers and suppliers have existing supply agreements with hospitals in many other states. To fulfil those contracts, they have a statutory commitment to act.
