COVID Spike: Odisha Govt Orders Increase In Frequency Of Refilling Oxygen Cylinders

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday issued a directive to increase the frequency of refilling of oxygen cylinders to ensure the timely treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.

The Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Pradipta Mohapatra, issued the directive in a letter to District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, CDMO & PHOs and Principal of all Medical Colleges and Hospitals.

Mohapatra wrote that the requirement of oxygen for treatment of COVID patients are increasing day by day with the spike in number of positive cases.

He said although adequate arrangements have been made in all districts for oxygen cylinders and each health institution in the respective districts have been tagged to one or more cylinder refilling centres, it is necessary to increase the frequency and number of vehicles being sent for refilling to maintain continuous supply.

In this regard, in continuation to the existing standard operating procedure (SOP) and necessary guidelines, the Secretary asked the recipients of the letter to make the following arrangements immediately:

—The number of vehicles engaged for transportation of cylinders to and from refilling centers must be suitably increased. At any given point of time, at least one vehicle should be available as a standby for meeting any eventuality on account of vehicle breakdown or staff absence.

—All these vehicles have to be fitted with a GPS tracking system. The aforesaid officials will send the list of vehicles along with contact details to ensure fitting up GPS tracking devices to Manoj Kumar Mishra, secretary, Electronics & IT Department along with a copy to Drugs Controller.

—The number of times vehicles carrying empty cylinders are sent to refilling centers must be substantially increased so as to ensure that empty cylinders are not stranded at any Health institution.

—A responsible officer must be kept in charge of monitoring the refilling of oxygen cylinders and their transportation who shall be responsible for the above arrangements. The name and contact details of such officer must be sent to Drugs Controller and Managing Director, IPICOL immediately.