Kerala leads in oxygen production in fight against Covid

The huge influx of patients has brought pressure on the health infrastructure in most of the states. Contrastingly, Kerala has been producing double the quantity of oxygen required per day.

Thiruvananthapuram: The second wave of COVID-19 has tightened its grip across the country and the death toll has witnessed an uptick. Hospitals across the country have been grappling over the shortage of oxygen supply while breathlessness has posed a villain for Covid-19 patients.

The huge influx of patients has brought pressure on the health infrastructure in most of the states. Contrastingly, Kerala has been producing double the quantity of oxygen required per day. The adequate availability of oxygen and its reserve is a sigh of relief for the state.

Kerala moves ahead with care and caution

Kerala Government's Health Department has been able to ensure that there is no shortage of oxygen in the state and every needy patient has been supplied with adequate oxygen, as per the Centre's direction during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Joint efforts of the State government and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) turned fruitful.

High oxygen production

At present, Kerala produces 204 metric tonnes of oxygen per day while the usage per day now stands at 80 metric tonnes. The usage per day is inclusive of oxygen requirement for Covid patients, 35 metric tonnes, as well as for non-Covid patients, that is, 45 metric tonnes.

Looking at the infrastructure of oxygen production, there are four oxygen production companies and eleven air separation units in the State. Construction work of another air separation unit with a capacity of four metric tonnes has been completed and it would be commissioned in April 2021. 23 oxygen filling stations have also been set up. In case of emergency, there is also the facility to expedite the quantity of oxygen production within a short time.

Systematic operations

Since last year, the State has put in place a smooth operational system for oxygen supply in the wake of the pandemic. PESO, which is under the Central Government, has the supervisory role of supplying medical oxygen. The Chief Controller of Explosives has appointed Nodal Officers to oversee the medical oxygen distribution in all States. Dr R Venugopal has been entrusted with the duty in Kerala.

The Health Department has been enlisting the requirement of oxygen in every district and has been handing it over to PESO. PESO has been procuring the details from manufacturers, distributors and has been ensuring supply. PESO has a Central Control Room in Faridabad and a special control room in the State to facilitate supply.

PESO had held a meeting of the oxygen manufacturers and filling plants officials and demanded them to hand over the data on oxygen stock and distribution on a daily basis.

With the implementation of this system, accurate data on the production, distribution and stock of oxygen in the State has been maintained.

The plants that had remained closed have been functioning 24 X 7 now. Hospitals have been given permission to procure oxygen even before issuing licenses. The oxygen that was left unused has been procured with the help of refineries.

Efficient oxygen distribution

In the wake of rising COVID cases during this second wave, directions have been issued to increase the supply of oxygen cylinders.

The cylinders used for industrial needs and nitrogen cylinders have been converted into medical oxygen cylinders. Ramping up of such measures led Kerala to 'safe level' in terms of medical oxygen availability.

As many as 30 hospitals, including Government hospitals, have centralised oxygen plants. Tanks with a capacity to contain one kilolitre of oxygen have been installed in 16 hospitals. In other hospitals, oxygen cylinders have been brought to patient’s bedside.

Meticulous planning and effective implementation to ensure medical oxygen in any contingency have brought Kerala to a safe level. Hence, Kerala could help Goa, which was in a crisis due to oxygen scarcity, by providing liquid oxygen.

Though the present scenario can be termed ‘secure’, the steadily rising number of COVID cases in the second wave is a cause of apprehension for the State too.