Demand for medical oxygen in second wave
Preparedness of RIMS questioned
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 17 2021: Though the State Government has set up oxygen plants in certain areas including Thoubal and JNIMS complex and opened a 100 bedded ICU facility recently to tackle the Covid pandemic, RIMS, which is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is lacking behind in terms of these facilities.

According to a reliable information received from RIMS, the premium healthcare institute of Manipur received inputs from experts about the possibilities of a second wave of COVID-19 in Manipur in the early part of the first wave.

Saying that some processes vital to effectively meet the challenges of the second wave of the pandemic were overlooked, the source added that RIMS currently going through shortage of oxygen is distressing.

According to the source, about 224 beds at RIMS have been allotted for treating Covid patients.

In terms of oxygen, RIMS has about 600 cylinders while the current requirement is about 300 cylinders per day.

It also said that oxygen generated from plants in Manipur is limited, so RIMS procures its requisite quantity of oxygen from other States.

To ensure there is no shortage of oxygen at RIMS, the oxygen management committee had requested the RIMS authority to purchase about 700 cylinders, said the source and added that the State Government also assured the RIMS authority of extending all possible help in procuring the requisite cylinders.

When contacted, RIMS Director Professor Dr A Santa said that at the initial stage of the second wave, they did face shortage of medical oxygen in the face of the rapidly climbing demand.

That however has been addressed to satisfactorily now, he said and added that RIMS now has a buffer stock of about 150 filled cylinders.

Moreover the institute has about 800 empty oxygen cylinders in stock.

To keep a buffer stock of 300 oxygen cylinders, about 1000-1,200 empty cylinders is required, it added.

However, the proposal never materialised, it said and added that the price of one cylinder at the time of proposal was Rs 6,000- Rs 7,000 but today it has shot up to as high as Rs 22, 000 to 24,000 per cylinder.

Saying that the severity of the second wave seems to be lessening as there is no heavy rush for Covid beds at RIMS, the source maintained that admission for post Covid infections, however, is increasing and demand for medical oxygen is not decreasing.

Continuing that one oxygen plant might be installed at RIMS by August, the source is doubtful whether the plant will be able to carry out its intended task if installed late.

It is also said that the State Government had advised the RIMS authority to increase the number of ICU beds at the institute, but the same is yet to be implemented.

The source further stated that the mortality rate of Covid patients at RIMS might be lesser than what is seen today had the authorities taken up action in time to meet the second wave.

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