As the second wave of the coronavirus intensifies, India yet again reported the highest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with over 2,95,041 fresh infections and 2,023 deaths on Wednesday.The alarming spread of COVID-19 has led to shortage of oxygen cylinders in the hospitals, Remdesivir medicine, and bed in hospital. It also shows a lack of shortage of oxygen cylinders needed by patients suffering from severe respiratory problems due to corona. Relatives of the affected patients have to rush for oxygen. Meanwhile, the production of oxygen in the country is proving to be more than the demand. However, the reason behind shortage of oxygen cylinders has come to light.
The central government has banned the supply of oxygen to industries to increase the supply of oxygen to hospitals. Therefore, oxygen is being supplied to only 9 essential industries.Reliance, Tata Steel, SAIL, Jindal Steel have started supplying oxygen to Corona patients for treatment. IFFCO, a fertilizer cooperative, has started construction of an oxygen plant. From here, free oxygen will be supplied to the hospitals. The Centre has also decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to meet the demand. Prior to the Corona period, the country had an average daily demand of 700 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen. In the first wave of corona, the demand was 2,800 metric tons per day. Meanwhile, in the second wave, the demand has reached 5,000 metric tonnes.
The daily production of oxygen in the country has exceeded the demand. As on April 12, the country has a daily production capacity of 7,287 metric tonnes. The daily demand is 3,842 metric tons. Although the demand has reached 5,000 metric tonnes, it is less than the production capacity. The current stock of medical and industrial oxygen in the country is around 50,000 metric tons.To convert industrial oxygen to medical grade, it has to be 93 percent pure. But the real problem is the delivery of oxygen to the hospitals concerned.
Currently there are not enough cryogenic tankers available to transport liquid oxygen in the country. The rate of infection is high. Oxygen shortages are also occurring in many hospitals at the same time. Currently, there is a shortage of cylinders and equipment in the country. So many hospitals are not getting oxygen.