NAGPUR: The fresh spike in Covid infections has also increased demand for medical oxygen but the hospitals are breathing easy this time. There are reports of the demand going up by 30% to 50% in this month.
The situation, however, is not the same as it was in September 2020.
Much has changed since last year with lessons also learnt from the past, said sources in the industry. The sudden rise in cases then had also increased the demand for oxygen. This had left the industry in tight spot which could not cater to the requirement.
However, this led to restarting some of the closed facilities as the existing capacity utilization was also enhanced by the gas manufactures to meet the demand. The same units which now continue to operate at an enhanced capacity have been able to meet the additional demand, said industrial sources.
There has been a change in the approach by doctors. Earlier, majority of the patients were administered oxygen on being admitted. Now, only the critical cases are given oxygen. Despite this the demand has gone up.
Dr Vikram Rathi, the consulting pulmonologist at Kingsway Hospitals, said, “There has been a change in the approach by doctors also. Earlier, higher oxygen was consumed as doctors tried to maintain a saturation level of 98 to 99 for the patient. However, in the last six months it was seen that it can help even if the oxygen level is kept close to 95. This has kept the requirement of medical oxygen under control.”
Patients have begun reaching the hospital early which is preventing the cases from worsening. Early reporting also prevents oxygen consumption.
Dr Anup Marar, the convenor of Vidarbha Hospitals Association, said, “There has been a change in entire approach by the doctors also. This has led to a judicial use of oxygen leading to a comfortable position despite demand going up.”
Sources said even the rates of oxygen are stable due to adequate supply.
“We are able to manage because demand has gone up around over 30% only. The industry may start feeling the pinch if it goes up further. There may not be a shortage soon after, but it can be a tight position if the additional demand goes up to over 65% of the earlier level,” said an official in one of the manufacturing units.