States cannot restrict the movement of oxygen supply: Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has urged states to ensure that no restriction is imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between states. It also said that manufacturers and suppliers in the state should not restrict oxygen supplies to other states.

Reportedly, yesterday four patients died at a hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas as the Maharashtra government restricted the movement of medical oxygen to the other states.

Hours after complaints of inadequate oxygen cylinders in the hospital were raised, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in a letter to states and union territories, said: “No restriction is imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between two-states.

It has been strongly reinforced that it is every state's responsibility to ensure that every hospitalized Covid patient receives oxygen.”

“It has been again brought to their notice that medical oxygen constitutes an essential public health commodity and any impediment in the supplies of medical oxygen in the country may critically impact the management of patients suffering from Covid-19 disease in other parts of the country. Moreover, some of the major oxygen manufacturers/supplies already have existing supply agreements with hospitals in various states with a legal obligation to fulfill such agreements.”

Stressing that the Centre-led Covid management strategy is based on standard care treatment guidelines, the letter says: “These guidelines have ensured a uniform and standardized quality of medical care in all Covid facilities, including hospitals.”

An adequate supply of oxygen throughout the country has enabled effective clinical care of hospitalized Covid patients. As on date, less than 3.7% of active patients are on oxygen support..