Amid the acute shortage of medical-grade oxygen across Uttar Pradesh, the state government has announced that this resource will now be provided by the authority of a doctor’s prescription. The Addition Chief Secretary (information) stated that this order will curb the hoarding of oxygen cylinders at homes. Further, the state has also deployed officials at oxygen filling centres to ensure that there is no black-marketing of the supplies. The CM has even instructed that police officers should also be stationed here, to keep the public and suppliers in check.
Rationing of oxygen cylinders across UP
The Uttar Pradesh government has now made a doctor’s prescription mandatory for buying or refilling oxygen cylinders in Lucknow, Kanpur and other state districts. “While we are continuously taking steps to ensure oxygen supply and it will not be possible to meet the rising demand if people begin hoarding oxygen at home in anticipation of an emergency. Oxygen will now be sold only if one presents a doctor’s prescription, even if it’s on WhatsApp,” the ACS Information informed.
Each concentrator is meant for one patient and will ensure they do not require further intervention. The Chief Minister has also ordered to set up a control room to monitor the availability of oxygen in the state. The food safety and drug administration department and home department have been tasked to monitor the control room.
Steps to create oxygen availability in UP
The ACS also informed that about 31 hospitals in Uttar Pradesh are also setting up an air separator to manufacture oxygen from the air, thus curbing dependence on liquid oxygen supply. The plant will be operational in two weeks, easing the alarming shortage. The Centre too, has allocated about 1,500 oxygen concentrators to Uttar Pradesh for distribution in hospitals.
Industrial units using oxygen for manufacturing have been given the nod to convert the supply for medicinal purposes. Factories that manufacture medical oxygen and have been lying shut, will also be revived. Private hospitals are also being encouraged to set up their own oxygen plant.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 patients will be directly able to secure beds in private hospitals in Luckow. Earlier, a CMO referral letter was mandatory to receive the treatment, however, it has been ruled off now. As of now, Lucknow is nursing about 54,967 active cases across the city treatment facilities and home isolation. Reportedly, new COVID facilities are also being set up in the state capital to treat and isolate patients to cover the insufficiency of the hospital and other care centres.
