MoD to airlift 23 oxygen generating plants from Germany

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 23

As hospitals across the country reel under shortage of medical oxygen amidst the second wave of COVID-19, the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) has decided to import oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany to meet critical requirements.

These oxygen generating plants are expected to be here within a week, said Ministry of Defence spokesperson Bharat Bhushan Babu on Friday.

The oxygen units will be deployed only at military hospitals that are straining under an increased load of serving personnel and retired veterans. Fresh instructions and revised protocols were issued by service headquarters last week to help mitigate the spread of infections.

“These 23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany. These will be deployed in AFMS hospitals catering to the COVID patients,” Babu said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at a high-level review meeting on April 20, directed the armed forces to go ahead with the procurement of critical medical requirements under emergency powers of procurement.

These oxygen generating plants are expected within a week, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has also pitched in with oxygen generation plants and associated equipment produced by it. In addition to other gadgets, the onboard oxygen generation plant developed for the Tejas fighter has been adapted for medical use.

As the country witnesses an unprecedented number of COVID-19 infections, the Armed Forces have deployed their men, equipment and facilities to assist the civilian administration as and where required.

IAF aircraft as well as Army's railway wagons have also been pressed into service to ferry oxygen tankers and oxygen cylinders along with other essential items to various parts of the country. Military medical facilities are also open to treating civilian patients.