Ferozepur, May 6

Amid reports of hospitals running out of oxygen in the wake of the Covid surge in this border region, the ailing Civil Hospital at the district headquarters will soon get an imported oxygen plant. It is likely to be commissioned within a month.

8 yrs on, defunct unit restarts in muktsar

An oxygen plant lying non-operational for the past over eight years at Lubanianwali village in Muktsar was made functional on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar said the plant could prepare 300 cylinders of oxygen every day. TNS

Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinki said the plant had been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the insistence of the state government. It is estimated to cost Rs 1.25 crore. As per information, the machinery is being sourced from a foreign vendor. The plant with 650 litre per minute capacity will provide 35 cubic metre oxygen every hour.

The MLA said another Rs 1.5 crore had been sanctioned for modernisation of the Civil Hospital, which would include addition of beds.

He said vacant posts of specialist doctor were being filled so that patients did not have to travel long distances in emergency.

“We are mindful of the lack of facilities and a spurt in medical exigencies. Efforts are being made to overcome the challenges,” said the MLA, adding till the time the PGI Satellite Centre came up, all medical services would be provided at the Civil Hospital itself. — OC