Oxygen use in Maharashtra has nearly doubled in two months

MUMBAI: The surge in Covid-19 cases across the state has seen oxygen consumption almost double to 850 metric tonne now from 450 metric tonne as on July 1. By Tuesday, September 8, active cases in the state had risen to 2.4 lakh from 79,075 on July 1.
A high-level team of Food and Drug Administration officials led by commissioner Arun Unhale and public health commissioner N Ramaswami are monitoring the situation to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen at all Covid and other hospitals and that no patient suffers due to its shortage or unavailability. Newly appointed transport commissioner Avinash Dhakne has been roped in too, to ensure logistical support for supplying oxygen.
A senior professor said 35,540 of the total active patients are currently on oxygen compared with 11,861 on July 1. “According to rough estimates, at least 15% of the patients require oxygen. Ever since the pandemic broke out, we have ensured adequate supply of oxygen in urban and rural areas.”
The professor said considering the possibility of increased oxygen requirement, the public health department has imposed stringent restrictions on its supply. It has now been made mandatory to supply 80% of the oxygen exclusively to hospitals.”
A senior FDA official said before the lockdown, the daily requirement of oxygen stood at 200-300 metric tonne a day.
“The installed capacity of oxygen manufacturers in the state is more than 1,100 metric tonne per day while the consumption is 850 metric tonne. In future, if cases rise further, our requirement may increase too. We are sure even if there is a rise in cases, we will be able to tackle the situation,” he said.
The FDA official said the state has four major and around 85 small oxygen manufacturers. The four major manufacturers meet 70% of the demand. Besides, a few top hospitals have their own oxygen manufacturing plants on their premises.