Mumbai: The country can require up to 3,838 metric tons of medical oxygen during the peak of the third wave which is possible when active cases can skyrocket to 12.95 lakh, according to projections withdrawn by health authorities.
To overcome such demand, the state has continued to add storage and production capacity for the past four months.
It has managed to double it to reach 2,500mt from the previous capacity of 1,200mt.
However, it can take a long time to reach the desired 3.838MT volume.
The country now has 150 liquid medical oxygen tanks (LMO) in public hospitals, including medical colleges, which can accommodate 2,000 kiloliters of oxygen.
LMO is a mainstay in the ICU and a high dependency unit, where patients on living support require high pressure oxygen.
N Ramaswami, Commissioner, National Health Mission, said the state plans to add 200 LMOS, funds to be allocated from the emergency package and health system preparedness package (ECRP-II).
In addition to LMOS, a total of 513 swing adsorption plants (PSA) which can produce oxygen are also installed in all districts.
Sixty-eight of these plants, which are provided under PM Cares Fund, have been installed.
“Overall, more than 50% of PSA has been installed, while the rest is in process,” he said.
Mumbai has built the capacity to produce and save up to 400MT oxygen, up from the existing 250KL capacity.
According to central guidelines, 70% of inventory for an area must come from LMOS, 20% of PSA factories and 10% of the tank, Dura cylinder, etc.
Ramaswami said that based on this formula and active case projections for third waves, each district has been asked to build capacity.
During the second wave, Maharashtra faced a severe medical oxygen crisis, forced it to borrow supplies from neighboring countries and uphold more stringent norms such as limiting the use of oxygen tracing devices such as high flow nose cannula.
The capacity of the state is 1,200mt oxygen, the request has shot up to 1,800-1,900mt.
To avoid a similar view of despair, the Center distributes a comprehensive plan to countries to increase their beds, medicines and oxygen capacity.
Dr.
Kanchan Wanere, Nodal Nodal officers for medical oxygen, said countries have been told not only to create capacity that will suffuct patients on certain days, but to create sufficient storage for the next three days.
The state receives a donation of 5,000 oxygen concentrators from PM care funds.