Terming the MP Shawait Malik’s statement for unnecessary
delay of setting up oxygen plants in State as shameful, the Health Minister Mr.
Balbir Singh Sidhu asked him to instead of playing blame game, he should make
pressure on GoI to soon install oxygen plants in Punjab.
Mr. Sidhu said that there is medical emergency in Punjab and even after repeated appeals of Punjab Government to increase the oxygen quota as COVID cases and Case Fatality Rate has rapidly increased day by day, GoI didn’t pay any heed to State requirement. He said that only 1 plant has been installed PSA (1000lpm) at Fridkot and commissioned in March 2021.
In spite of repeated reminders and requests made by Punjab Government, the 2 plants at GMCH Amritsar & Patiala are yet not installed by GOI.
Mr. Sidhu divulged that as desired by GoI, on October 12, 2020, the demand for PSA plants in 3 medical colleges ( Amritsar, Patiala & Faridkot) was sent on the prescribed format on October 15, 2020 to be installed by GOI in 1st phase through Central Medical Services Society. He said that on November 2, 2020, Union Government issued the list of 162 PSA plants to be installed in the country which included these 3 plants in Punjab.
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The state sent the site readiness certificates such as shed, platform, and genset, etc. on December 31, 2020, to GOI duly completing all required works he said adding that it is unfortunate that so far, only one plant has been installed at Faridkot.
Mr. Sidhu said that it is learnt that the vendor for Amritsar and Patiala (Uttam air) hired by GoI backed out and the contract was awarded to a new vendor Airox on April 17, 2021.
Notably, exercise is being done on war footing to cover all 50 bedded Govt hospitals with a PSA plant.