There is no shortage of Medical Oxygen in the country: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan yesterday said that there is no shortage of Medical Oxygen in the country. The Minister was answering questions posed by his social media interactors on the 6th episode of Sunday Samvaad.

He said, the current oxygen production capacity of India is around 6,400 tonnes per day. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, the Government is ready to scale up the production capacity in order to meet any further increase in demand arising due to the COVID Pandemic. He said, the Empowered Group constituted by the Home Ministry is monitoring the requirement of medical oxygen across the country. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, the



Ministry of Health is also monitoring the availability and supply of Medical Oxygen at the field level through regular Video Conferences with State Nodal officers. The Minister said, 1,02,400 Medical Oxygen Cylinders have been delivered to States and Union Territories. He said, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed the price of Liquid Medical Oxygen.

 

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Health Ministry has released Rs 1,352 crore to 33 States and UTs under Phase -2 of COVID Package. He said, the grant has been released in tranches during the months of August, September and October this year.