Oxygen plant set up, bed capacity in PHC to increase

Ghaziabad: A private company’s largesse in providing an oxygen generating plant at a health centre in Ghaziabad has led to the district administration thinking of increasing its bed capacity. The 333 LPM oxygen generation plant became functional at Bhojpur PHC on Wednesday.
As the capacity of the plant is much bigger than the hospital’s 10 beds, the health department is now planning to upgrade the medical facility to a community health centre (CHC) level. Officials said an additional 20-bed ward would be created for the purpose.
Earlier, a plant of 250 LPM capacity was proposed here, but the private company, Dabur, which was building it through its CSR fund, procured a bigger one. At one point in time, the health department had even thought of shifting it to a bigger medical facility but later changed its mind.
Officials said Bhojpur PHC covers a population of one lakh and a CHC would prove more helpful. A plan to upgrade the PHC has been in the pipeline for some time.
Chief medical officer Dr NK Gupta said, “In view of the preparations for the possible third wave, the third oxygen plant was launched in the district on Wednesday. At present, there is a provision of 10 beds in PHC and four doctors are deployed. Preparations are on to increase 20 more beds, after which 10 beds would be reserved for the children. Along with this, the number of doctors will also be increased.”
“This unit will not only help meet the existing requirement of oxygen in the city but will also be able to meet any emergency arising from a possible third wave,” Dabur India head (CSR) A Sudhakar said.
The CMO said that by July 15, four more oxygen plants would be started in the district.