Private hospitals in Chandigarh, to pool oxygen cylinders in case of 3rd wave

Chandigarh, October 5

Private hospitals will pool D-type oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators to tackle patient surge in the case of a third Covid wave. However, the installation work of oxygen plants at private hospitals has not been started yet due to space constraints.

Health Secretary Yash Pal Garg said, “We are trying for installation of PSA plants and extra cylinders to take care of the oxygen requirement for up to three days. We had suggested to the hospitals to pool D-type oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators as it is difficult for them to buy own share of oxygen. Pooling will be a good option for private hospitals and cylinders can be shifted from one hospital to another.”

The private hospitals have been asked by the UT Health Department to create a back-up plan to reduce dependency on oxygen cylinders. The hospitals have been asked to procure sufficient number of oxygen concentrators of 10-litre capacity.

Dr RS Bedi of Bedi Hospital, Sector 33, and former IMA chief said, “The oxygen scarcity in the second wave was managed with the cooperation of the Administration with the private sector. While preparing for a third wave, private hospitals have volunteered to pool oxygen concentrators, besides having oxygen plants at hospitals with over 50 beds.”

According to the UT instructions, each private hospital should have enough empty cylinders to tackle any delay in refilling for up to 48 or 72 hours. — TNS