MCG launches token system to cut wait for oxygen

Gurgaon: In a move to streamline the supply of oxygen to Covid-19 patients in home isolation, MCG has started a token system for refilling cylinders from its offices.
Officials said a total of 90 tokens, 30 each from three offices of MCG in Sector 34, Sector 42 and opposite the Civil hospital in old Gurgaon, respectively, will be issued daily, and attendants can get the same by producing the RT-PCR report, Aadhaar card and doctor’s prescription of the patient.
Each token with a validity of 48 hours, will be available from 9am to 5pm everyday at the MCG offices. After getting a token, an applicant can get their oxygen cylinder refilled from Star Gases, a private oxygen manufacturer in Manesar, officials said.
The move comes in the wake of the district administration and the civic body getting several requests for oxygen from the kin of Covid patients in home isolation in Gurgaon.
Joint commissioner Hariom Atri said that the kin of patients had to wait in long queues and still there was no certainty of oxygen. “With the token system in place, the queues will eventually end and the token holder will surely get the life-saving gas,” he said.
“The applicant will have to get their cylinder refilled at the Manesar plant by showing the token. With the increase in oxygen quota of the district, the number of tokens will also be raised,” the MCG joint commissioner added.
However, residents say the number of tokens is too less. “At least 500 tokens should be issued by the civic body going by the number of patients being treated at home,” said Deepak Jaiswal, a resident of Golf Course Road (Extension).
Meanwhile, the district administration is mulling over providing oxygen to the residents of condominiums and societies through the RWAs. If the plan gets an approval, the RWAs will be able to provide oxygen to the needy patients and also monitor its usage, said an official.