NEW DELHI: Production of liquid medical oxygen has increased nearly 36% from the start of the month and is now just shy of 9,000 tonnes a day with almost the entire output earmarked for medical purposes, barring a small amount set aside for the pharma sector, units making vials and ampules and defence establishments.
At a meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday, it emerged that daily production is projected to cross 9,250 tonnes by the end of the week. With other steps including imports and airlifting of supplies from overseas, the situation is expected to ease in the coming days, provided the pace of new cases does not accelerate considerably.
Over the last few days, the government has stepped up efforts to improve liquid medical oxygen supply as demand has shot up in the wake of a steep rise in patients suffering from breathlessness on account of their lungs getting damaged. Modi has asked officials to work closely with states to start Pressure Swing Absorption oxygen plants at the earliest. He stressed on the need to ensure that specific guidelines and strategies evolved regarding Covid management needed to be properly implemented by the relevant agencies in states, an official statement said.
