Over 100 oxygen plants set up in Rajasthan after second wave

JAIPUR: Aiming to generate 1,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen, more than 100 oxygen generation plants have been installed in government-run hospitals and community health centres.
“We are targeting to set up at least 400 oxygen generation plants in the state,” health minister Raghu Sharma told TOI.
Dearth of oxygen during the second wave of Covid had promoted the health department to install oxygen generation plants in the state. “We are targeting to achieve 1,000 metric tonne of oxygen generation daily from oxygen plants which are being established indifferent parts of the state and also from oxygen concentrators which we are installing not only in urban areas but also in rural areas too,” said Siddharth Mahajan, secretary (health).
Recently, the health minister inaugurated an oxygen plant at Mahila Chikitsalaya having a capacity of producing enough oxygen to cater to the needs of 200 beds and another was inaugurated at JK Lon Hospital, which has the capacity of catering to the need of 160 beds.
Besides, the health department has made it mandatory for private hospitals for setting up oxygen generation plants which have 60 or more beds.
Also, in rural areas, as many as 350 community health centres have been identified by the health department, which will be developed in such a way that they will have facilities for Covid treatment including oxygen therapy. For the purpose, health department is now making efforts to install oxygen generation plants or if it is not possible, it is ensuring that the CHCs should have sufficient number of oxygen concentrators and supply of oxygen cylinders.
The measures are being taken by the health department to remain prepared for the third wave, which may emerge in the coming months. For the purpose, the health department is ensuring sufficient stock of medicines, oxygen and beds for Covid patients along with other facilities required in hospitals.