Oxygen scenario in Kerala nonetheless underneath management regardless of doubling of demand: Experts

Express News Service
KOCHI: The demand for medical oxygen within the state greater than doubled from round 73MT to 150MT per day since April, however specialists stated Kerala is nicely ready to fulfill the demand by augmenting manufacturing moreover arranging provides from exterior.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan final week wrote to the prime minister requesting 1,000 tonnes of liquid oxygen provide to fulfill the state’s demand. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) can also be taking all steps to extend the manufacturing of gaseous oxygen and limiting the usage of already depleting liquid medical oxygen (LMO).

The LMO manufacturing at Inox India Limited, Kanjikode in Palakkad, was elevated from 149 metric tonnes per day to 160 metric tonnes.

According to PESO, the common provide of medical oxygen in cylinders to hospitals in Kerala has been 66.46MT previously eight days. The provide of LMO on to hospitals is 140.57MT. The common provide of medical oxygen (gaseous and LMO) previously eight days is 207.04MT. 

“Kerala has 45,454 D type (40-60-litre capacity) cylinders and 5,228 B type (10-litre) cylinders in its custody for filling medical oxygen. All district collectors in the state have been advised to seize all industrial oxygen cylinders for hospital purposes and, so far, 2,473 cylinders have been seized,” stated R Venugopal, deputy chief controller of Peso and nodal officer (medical oxygen monitoring), Kerala and Lakshadweep. 

Medical specialists stated as of now, there is no such thing as a scarcity of medical oxygen within the state. The purpose the CM has requested the Centre for extra is to remain ready for a probably extreme scenario. “It is a question of arranging medical oxygen at hospitals as per the requirement. The problem was with the logistical support. Now, the situation has come under control. We have sufficient oxygen supply in the state. As the district administrations are taking care of the sourcing and supply of oxygen, things are working out now,” stated Dr Junaid Rahman, former president of IMA, Kochi.

Presently, the demand for oxygen is rising as extra instances are being reported. “Earlier, hospitals refilled oxygen every week. Now, refilling is being done every two days,” stated Dr Mathews Numpeli, Ernakulam district programme supervisor, National Health Mission.

Also, hospitals do not need permission to retailer medical oxygen, he stated. Officials have to tell the district battle rooms concerning any subject associated to oxygen availability, and as soon as validated, oxygen can be provided to the hospitals. This is to make sure that there’s a provide of required oxygen in each hospital throughout the state. 

“If a hospital is allowed to store extra oxygen, then there will be a shortage in other hospitals,” said Dr Mathews. “We are handling the logistics carefully. As the demand rose, there was a shortage of tankers to supply medical oxygen. However, we are managing the situation and ensuring that there is no delay in the logistical part,” he added. 

Each hospital within the state has a nodal officer who experiences to the district administration at the very least 4 instances a day to replace the oxygen necessities. “The nodal officers inform us about the shortage of oxygen and, accordingly, we intervene and send more tankers for refilling,” stated Dr Akhil Manuel, medical officer, NHM.

Demand rising

The demand for oxygen is rising as extra instances are being reported. “Earlier, hospitals refilled oxygen every week. This has to be done every two days now,” stated Dr Numpeli.

Steps taken to enhance provide

A brand new Air Separation Unit (ASU) can be commissioned on May 12, stated Peso’s Venugopal. Peso has accepted a personal sector ASU plant – Auxillium Products LLP – at Kizhakkanchery village in Vadakkenchery, Palakkad district. This plant can produce 235 litres of high-purity liquid oxygen and 260 cubic metres of high-purity oxygen in cylinders.

Another new non-public ASU plant has been granted permission at Veli within the capital with a manufacturing capability of 130 cubic metres per hour. Peso has additionally suggested the agency to transform its 20-kilolitre (KL) argon tank right into a liquid medical oxygen tank.

A capability of 33KL LMO can be accessible on the plant as nicely. It has taken steps to restart its ASU plant at Vattaparambu in Malappuram district by the top of May. The plant had been closed since 2016.