New Delhi (NVI): Altogether 6608 oxygen concentrators, 3856 oxygen cylinders, 14 oxygen generation plants; 4330 ventilators/Bi PAP and about 3 lakh Remdesivir vials have been delivered/dispatched to India from various countries from April 27 till yesterday, the Union government said today.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said “a streamlined and systematic mechanism” has been designed for “effective allocation and prompt distribution and delivery of the support supplies received by India.”
The statement by the Ministry came on a day when the Supreme Court formed a 12-member Task Force for rational and scientific distribution of oxygen to States and Union Territories in view of chaos and controversies over the issue.
“Reflecting the solidarity and goodwill towards India, the global community has extended a helping hand in supporting efforts of India in this collective fight against COVID19,” it said.
“Government of India has been receiving international donations and aid of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since 27 April 2021 from different countries/organisations,” the statement said.
The ministry said these supplies will “help to supplement the medical infrastructure of the tertiary care institutions and recipient States/UTs, and strengthen their clinical management capacities for effective clinical management of the hospitalised COVID19 patients.”
It added, “Effective immediate allocation, and streamlined delivery to the recipient states/UTs and institutions is an ongoing exercise. This is being comprehensively monitored by the Union Health Ministry on a regular basis.”
Earlier in the day, Supreme Court set up a 12-member National Task Force to formulate a methodology for its scientific and rational allocation to the states and Union Territories.
A two-member Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah said the rationale behind constituting the Task Force was to ensure a public health response to the pandemic, based on specialised domain knowledge.
The Court said that during the course of hearing in the case, a consensus has emerged that there is a need to ensure that the allotments of medical oxygen to the States and UTs is made on a scientific, rational and equitable basis. At the same time, it must allow for flexibility to meet unforeseen demands due to emergencies, which may arise within the allocated territories.
The significant decision of the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition, comes at a time when the unavailability and distribution of oxygen, desperately needed by Covid patients, has led to chaos in the country. Many patients have died in hospitals because of lack of oxygen and several hospitals have been often issuing SOS messages about the shortage of oxygen.
