Assam plans to augment oxygen generation for crisis times

GUWAHATI: Even as parts of the country struggle to meet the demand for medical oxygen, the Assam government has decided to augment its oxygen generation within the state despite oxygen stocks lying untouched.
Health sources said that around 50 metric ton of medical oxygen is being generated daily in Assam though only 20-25 metric ton is being utilized in both government and private hospitals in the state. Significantly, less than five metric ton is being used for Covid patients at present, whereas the utilization of oxygen for non-Covid cases is much more in the current situation.
About half of the daily oxygen generation is being supplied to industries, but the state health department is ready to divert all oxygen for medical purposes if the Covid crisis deepens in the state.
Health officials said that of the 20-25 metric ton being utilized in the current situation, hardly 2-3 metric ton per day is being used for Covid patients, while 17-18 metric ton is being used for other regular surgeries, ICUs and other patients. However, they admitted that oxygen needs for Covid is likely to increase in the days to come.
"Assam has a storage capacity of 230 metric ton of medical oxygen. As on date, we are in a position to handle the daily requirement of oxygen in hospitals with regular production only. Whatever in store remains in stock," Assam National Health Mission director Lakshmanan S told TOI on Monday.
Only in the worst situation, Assam may need oxygen supply in bulk from other states like Jharkhand and West Bengal, if the daily usage of oxygen goes beyond 50 metric ton. "To refill the stocks, if and only need arises, Assam has the facilities to bring liquid medical oxygen from other states. In the present situation, we can smoothly go ahead with the daily production and available stocks," Lakshmanan added.
According to health officials, a comparatively smaller state like Assam, has achieved a great degree of self-sufficiency in oxygen generation- though a major contributor is the private sector. Despite the availability, the state health department, amid the surging number of Covid cases, has decided to build 10 new oxygen generation plants in the medical colleges and district hospitals to tackle any kind of adversity, a senior health official said. Also, multiple other options are being explored to avoid a Delhi-like oxygen crisis in future, as oxygen generation plants in the government sector are confined to only the medical colleges of the state.