Steps on for robust oxygen supply chain
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 02 2021: Considering the requirement of oxygen for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the State and to ensure effective supply chain management of the same, the State Government has adopted many measures with immediate effect since yesterday.

Based on the oxygen manufacturing capacity currently available in the State, the State Government has allocated 120 D-Type cylinders each to RIMS and JNIMS; 70 D-Type cylinders to Shija Hospital; 60 D-Type cylinders to Raj Medicity; 50 D-Type cylinders each to District Hospitals and other Covid Health Care facilities and 100 D-Type cylinders for non-Covid hospitals (for emergency purpose only) .

The extra requirement of oxygen cylinders need to be catered from manufacturing plants outside the State by institutions and dealers concerned, said the Government order issued yesterday.

The allocation will be revised with the addition of more manufacturing capacities in the State, the order said.

The order, further said that oxygen manufacturing units should prepare a cycle of supply of oxygen cylinders to the dealers or institutions based on the allocation to ensure that every institution receives the requisite quota in batches throughout the day.

Deputy Commissioners of Bishnupur and Imphal West should depute one responsible officer each round the clock on a rotational basis at the manufacturing units/plants located within their jurisdictions with immediate effect, it said.

The said officers should maintain a record of the supply and delivery of oxygen cylinders along with dealer and institution-wise logbook for the respective plants and furnish the report daily at 6 am and 6 pm to Dr Mayengbam Veto Singh, MCS, Deputy Secretary (Transport), Government of Manipur (8730931414 and e-mail mayengbam.veto@gov.in), the order said.

The record will be then placed to 'State Oxygen Team' which will further monitor the distribution of daily supply to each dealer till the final user.

Any unauthorised diversion of oxygen cylinders other than for medical usage shall be penalised under relevant provisions of law, it said.

Private dealers should work out a mechanism for refilling from bigger plants outside the State to meet the deficits in the demand as mentioned earlier.

The State Government further ordered the Managing Director, MSPDCL to ensure a regular supply of power to the oxygen manufacturing units in the State.

It also advised that a dedicated officer be assigned to monitor the supply of power at HVS Oxygen Plant, Patsoi and M/s Manipur Gas Pvt Ltd, Bishnupur.

Shija Hospital and JNIMS need to ensure their oxygen plants to be operational in the shortest possible time, it said while adding that all dealers should stop the sale of filled oxygen cylinders for non-medical purposes.

It said that dealers shall take back the oxygen cylinders used earlier for non-medical purposes and utilise them for medical supply.

While maintaining that hoarding of oxygen cylinders will not be allowed and actions should be initiated against the offenders, the State Government instructed Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all districts to conduct random checking of unauthorised usage (Commercial/ Non- Commercial) of oxygen cylinders within their jurisdictions and take up necessary actions against the offenders under relevant provisions of law.

For home isolation cases, concerned district home isolation teams should be responsible for arranging oxygen cylinders in coordination with the Deputy Commissioners for cases that need critical care support and awaiting admission in higher facilities.

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