HYDERABAD: Wiser after facing acute shortage of oxygen recently, the government with an eye on the possible outbreak of the third wave is gearing up to meet a requirement of 600 tonnes of daily oxygen supply.The state is currently meeting close to 500 tonnes oxygen supply and the preparedness proposal now aims to give single oxygen supply to 10,000 beds in all big government hospitals in the state.
“The daily requirement has gone up from 380 tonnes to 400 tonnes and has been increasing by the day.
Currently, out of total 25,000 Covid-19 beds in government hospitals.
The future plan is to provide single oxygen supply to another 10,000 beds,” said a top health department official.
Another 5,000 beds will be given three-line oxygen supply including ventilator facility.
“There is a need to set up local oxygen plant in every major government hospital, and providing oxygen supply to 3/4 beds from the plant” said a source.
Plans are also afoot on setting up 200 tonnes capacity liquid oxygen supply plant which will serve the needs of state always.
The state has availability of 23 tankers to bring oxygen from other states.
“We need to increase the number of tankers too but manufacturing of tankers does not happen domestically.
If needed, we will import tankers also from countries,” the source privy to the plans said.
There are proposals to increase ICU beds in all government teaching hospitals.
The government also proposed to set up seven medical colleges, each with 150 medical seats and 12 nursing colleges.
“If all these are set up, we will improve our medical facilities not just for third wave but also for regular needs…,” the official added.