Last Updated on September 22, 2020 by The Health Master
The Maharashtra government has appointed 104 nodal officers from Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to watch stock and provide of medical oxygen by 26 manufacturers and 78 oxygen refillers within the state.
This comes close on the heels of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)’s directive to stay strict vigil on medical oxygen stock and provide and take apt action under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act, 1940 and Essential Commodities (EC) Act, 1955 to stop black marketing and hoarding of medical oxygen.
Maharashtra FDA has also initiated state wide inspections of premises of medical oxygen manufacturers to make sure that 80 per cent of the oxygen is produced and supplied for treatment. Rest 20 per cent are often used for industrial purposes supported the directives of union health ministry and state FDA ministry within the wake of the worsening today’s scenario within the state.
This is following Maharashtra FDA minister Dr Rajendra Shingane’s recent review meeting recently with medical oxygen manufacturers within the wake of growing demand for oxygen within the state. Oxygen manufacturers were directed to strictly abide by the instructions to distribute 80 percent of the oxygen produced for medical purposes only.
FDA Minister acknowledged that because the state has abundant reserves of oxygen, it must be properly distributed with proper coordination in supply. He advised manufacturers and state FDA officials to be vigilant in order that there would be no shortage of oxygen anywhere thanks to transportation or logistical problems.
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Manufacturers are directed that refilling must be done around the clock. Larger tanks belonging to other manufacturers should even be used for transporting medical oxygen or liquid agents with the permission of the concerned department. Transport should be done around the clock to cater to cases of emergency by hiring two or more drivers for oxygen availability 24 hours each day . Arrangements should be made for immediate download as soon because the vehicle arrives in consultation with those that want to download the stock of LOX .
In order to make sure states and Union Territories (UTs) provide medical oxygen to each hospitalized patient, the Union health ministry had earlier urged states and UTs to make sure free inter-state movement of oxygen supplies.
In a letter written to the States and UTs, the Union health secretary had emphasised that availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen is a crucial prerequisite for managing moderate and severe cases.
It was delivered to the notice of the union health ministry that few States try to curb the free inter-state movement of oxygen supplies by exercising provisions under various Acts and also mandating the manufacturers and suppliers located within the State to limit their oxygen supplies to only the hospitals of the State.
In view of this, the health ministry has reiterated the critical importance of oxygen in hospitals for management of critical patients. The Union health secretary has urged the states and UTs to make sure that no restriction is imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between them. it’s been strongly reinforced that it’s every State’s responsibility to make sure that each hospitalized patient receives oxygen.
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