Facing Shortage, Maharashtra To Ration Oxygen Supplies For COVID Patients, Even Those In ICU

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an unprecedented demand for medical oxygen across the country.

Both critical COVID-19 patients and others are in need of oxygen support to keep them alive.

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But due to the unpredicted demand hospitals across the country are struggling to arrange enough oxygen cylinders for their patients.

Acute demand-supply gap

Maharashtra, the worst COVID-19 affected state in India is also grappling with the acute demand and supply gap.

Maharashtra government's data showed that more than 1,000 metric tons of oxygen are produced in the state every day, of which 600 metric tons are consumed by COVID patients.

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Faced with this crisis, the Maharashtra Health Department had recently issued a circular restricting the use of oxygen to 7 litre per minute for oxygen beds and 12 litre per minute for the ICU.

However, the move has not gone down well with the medical fraternity in the state.

IMA not in favour of rationing

On Monday, the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association protested against a state government circular and called the notification a ¡°cruel assault by the administration on private doctors at the expense of patients¡¯ lives¡±, and ¡°a glaring example of bureaucratisation of the management of Covid-19 crisis¡±.

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Dr. Deepak Baid, president of the Association of Medical Consultants, said there was no mechanism to calculate oxygen consumption in hospitals.

Under criticism from various corners, the Health Department has clarified that there was no restriction on the use of oxygen for COVID-19 patients.

The oxygen shortage has also taken a political turn in Maharashtra, with the opposition BJP alleging that the biggest reason behind the COVID deaths in the state is the lack of oxygen supply.

While big cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur are still better off, the situation in small towns and rural areas are critical. Doctors say the shortage is affecting non-COVID patients as well.

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In order to tackle the situation, in several districts like Osmanabad, Beed, Nandurbar and Pimpri, the administration is set up their own oxygen plants.

Last week Health Commissioner M Ramaswami said that there is no oxygen shortage at present in the state. ¡°Maharashtra produces 1,200 metric tonnes of oxygen per day and the need at present is 450 metric tonnes. We had a shortage of tankers and the state has got tankers from Chhattisgarh and more are coming. Maharashtra has 166 oxygen tankers. Besides, some nitrogen tankers and organ carrying tankers are being converted into oxygen tankers.¡±

Recently, like many states, Maharashtra too had restricted interstate sale of medical oxygen.

However, the Centre had instructed states to ensure adequate medical oxygen availability in all healthcare facilities and unrestricted intra/interstate movement of oxygen cylinders.