No space, can't set up O2 plants, claim Panchkula private hospitals

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 10

The Panchkula Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has written to the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Haryana, for further action after private hospitals in the district cited space crunch as the reason for their failure to set up oxygen generation plants on their premises to cater to Covid patients.

CMO Dr Mukta Kumar said, “The six-month period fixed by the state government for private hospitals with 50-plus beds to set up their own oxygen plants is already over. Yesterday, private hospitals finally submitted their reply, in which they claimed no space to install oxygen plants.”

Were given 6 months

The six-month period fixed by the state government for private hospitals with 50-plus beds to set up their own oxygen plants is already over. —Dr Mukta Kumar, Chief medical officer, Panchkula

When asked about further action, the CMO said she had written a letter to the DGHS and attached alongwith

the response of local private hospitals.

Three private hospitals – Alchemist, Ojas and Paras – submitted their replies to the CMO yesterday after pressure mounted on them for information on installation of oxygen plants despite two reminders sent to them.

In case of non-compliance, Health Minister Anil Vij had warned of strict action against private hospitals.

The Civil Hospital in Sector 6 had, earlier this year, increased its liquid medical oxygen storage capacity to 16 kl to strengthen its preparedness for a possible third wave of Covid and reserve the supply of life-saving gas for indoor patients.

An oxygen plant with a capacity of 300 litres per minute was also made functional at the Civil Hospital after the infirmary faced medical emergency due to a delay in the arrival of an oxygen tanker from Roorkee during the second wave in May this year.

The unit, installed by Absstem Technologies, can ensure supply of uninterrupted oxygen to 30 beds 24x7.

Amid Omicron scare, the Panchkula administration has held several meetings on Covid preparations recently. Setting up a Covid care centre in Sector 9, strict instructions to challan people without face mask and improving vaccine numbers (for the second dose) are among fresh measures announced by the district authorities to combat the spread of pandemic.