Hospitals having more than 50 beds directed to install Oxygen Plants

Govind Sharma

JAMMU, July 27: The Government today ordered all clinical establishment(s) and hospital(s) having more than 50 beds to establish an Oxygen Generation Plant of appropriate capacity for patient care.
“All Clinical Establishment(s)/Hospital(s) situated within the territorial jurisdiction of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir having more than 50 beds shall establish an Oxygen Generation Plant of appropriate capacity for facility of patient care,” said the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary Health & Medical Education Department Atal Dulloo.
The order was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (c) of Section 2 read with Section 12 of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010.
According to official sources, Oxygen Generation Plants have already been established in most of the Government Hospitals having more than 50 beds capacity and the order has been issued specifically for private hospitals and clinical establishments as a part of the preparation for the 3rd wave of COVID-19 so that no patient dies in the absence of medical oxygen.
Meanwhile, Director Health Services Jammu Dr Renu Sharma said that she has no idea as to why the order has been issued but it must have been issued for private hospitals/clinical establishments across the UT to prepare them for the 3rd wave of COVID-19. She also said that almost all the District Hospitals which come in this category (more than 50-bed capacity) have been equipped with Oxygen Generation Plants keeping in view the 3rd wave of Corona.