“Ramped Up Oxygen Capacity From 4,000 To 12,000 MT,” Health Minister Mandaviya Inaugurates PSA Plants At Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday (12 July) virtually inaugurated two PSA plants at Sir Takhtasinhji hospital, Bhavnagar.

Along with two Oxygen Generation plants of 1000 LPM capacity each, copper piping network and associated facilities like fire fighting system and automatic oxygen source changeover system were also inaugurated.

The Deendayal Port Trust, through its Corporate Social Responsibility, has installed the two Medical Oxygen PSA units at Sir Takhtsinhji Hospital, Bhavnagar, run by the Government of Gujarat, at the total cost of Rs. 2.53 crores.

The installed PSA oxygen generator unit has the capacity of 1000 LPM (litres per minute) each, i.e. 60,000 litres/hr of each unit totalling 1,20,000 litres/hr, which can be utilized for the treatment of COVID as well as other patients at the hospital.

“The system will eliminate the hardship of frequent refilling the cylinders for treatment of patients, and will ensure smooth and continuous oxygen supply to the hospital,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

Speaking on occasion, Mansukh Mandaviya said, “This facility is dedicated to the people of Bhavnagar. Similar such facilities inaugurated recently would help the country in times of crisis.”

The Union Health Minister noted the cooperation people showed during lockdowns in maintaining COVID Appropriate Behaviour and social distancing norms to beat the first COVID-19 wave.

“It is an evidence of sheer cooperation among different stakeholders from both public and private sector that we ramped up our oxygen capacity that was mere 4000 MT (metric tonne) to more than 12,000 MT in a short span of time,” he stated.

“We have learnt a lot from the second wave like oxygen supply, hospital beds and medicines. We have now ensured adequate funds in every district for buying critical care medical requirements in an emergency,” the minister said.

“The Cabinet has recently approved a Rs 23,000 crore package for Covid-19 emergency response. We have made adequate provisions for paediatric care in all hospitals to provide the most effective healthcare for children. We are also developing a system of buffer stock at State and centre level that can be used in case of any health crisis. Thus, a comprehensive plan and capacity building in the next six months is being taken up through this COVID package,” he added.