Oxygen crisis continue as Government plans to airlift Oxygen Plants from Germany for Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS)

Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has decided to import oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany, amid shortage of oxygen in the hospitals during the second wave of Covid-19 across the country. Twenty-three mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany that will be deployed in AFMS hospitals catering to the COVID patients. Each plant has a capacity to produce 40 litres of oxygen per minute and 2,400 litres an hour. At this rate, it can cater to 20-25 patients round the clock. The advantage of these plants is that they are easily portable.These oxygen generating plants are expected to arrive in India within a week. The decision by the ministry came four days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced granting emergency financial powers to the three services and other defence agencies to make necessary procurement to enhance medical infrastructure in view of the pandemic. As per the order issued on April 23, 2021, emergency financial powers have been delegated to Director General Medical Services (Army/Navy/Air Force), head of Medical Branches at Formation/Command Headquarters of Army/Navy/Air Force/Andaman & Nicobar Command and Joint Staff including Command Medical Officers of Navy and Principal Medical Officers of Air Force (Major General and equivalent/Brigadiers and equivalent).

Indian Air Force (IAF) has already deployed its assets for carrying out sorties from various parts of the country to airlift oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicines, equipment required for setting up and sustaining COVID hospitals and facilities in the fight against fresh surge in COVID-19 cases. The IAF Transport aircraft and helicopters have been pressed into service for carrying out these tasks. These include transport aircraft C-17, C-130J, IL-76, An-32 and Avro. Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are on standby. Tasks undertaken include airlift of doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag and Bangalore for various hospitals at Delhi.

The C-17 and IL-76 aircraft of IAF have started airlifting big empty oxygen tankers from their place of use to the filling stations across the country to speed up the distribution of much needed oxygen. In addition to this, the C-17 and IL-76 have transported large quantity of load comprising bio safety cabinets and autoclave machines for setting up of an additional COVID test facility at Leh.

In another important decision, Ministry of Defence is giving extension to Short Service Commissioned Doctors in AFMS till December 31, 2021 to tide over the current surge in medical services. This will augment the strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors.

As the nation is reeling under shortage of medical oxygen and stressed health infrastructure , Prime Minister Narendra Mod  interacted with leading oxygen manufacturers across the country via video conferencing. While chairing the meeting, the PM said this time is not only to deal with the challenges but also to provide solutions in a very short time. He emphasised the need to maintain good co-ordination between the government and the oxygen producers.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi chaired a meeting on Covid-19 situation with chief ministers of high burden states. The prime minister requested states to be strict with hoarding and black marketing of essential medicines and injections. He stressed that safety of hospitals should not be neglected.

Many countries like Russia have offered assistance in terms of Oxygen and essential drugs to India for tiding over the crisis. China has also offered Oxygen supply which the government is yet to respond to. Meanwhile the Indian Government is also considering other options of importing oxygen if situation further worsens.