Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that dedicated oxygen generation plants will be established in identified government hospitals in district headquarters in various states/UTs.

PM Modi made the announcement as reports of oxygen crisis are pouring in at a time when Covid19 positive cases are on the rise at an alarming rate and many of the infected people have lost lives due to lack of oxygen.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

In line with PM’s direction of boosting availability of oxygen to hospitals, the PM CARES Fund has given in-principle approval for allocation of funds for installation of 551 dedicated pressure swing adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants inside public health facilities in the country.

PM Modi has directed that these oxygen plants should be made functional as soon as possible.

The Prime Minister said these plants will serve as a major boost to oxygen availability at the district level.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

“These dedicated plants will be established in identified government hospitals in district headquarters in various States/UTs,” PM Modi said.

Also read: Indian Air Force airlifts cryogenic containers from Singapore to address oxygen shortage

The procurement will be done through the Union health and family welfare ministry.

“The PM CARES Fund had earlier this year allocated Rs. 201.58 crore for installation of additional 162 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities in the country,” the PMO said in a statement.

The basic aim behind establishing PSA oxygen generation plants at government hospitals in the district headquarters is to further strengthen the public health system and ensure that each of these hospitals has a captive oxygen generation facility, the health ministry said.

Also read: Centre to waive customs duty on import of oxygen and medical equipment

“Such an in-house captive oxygen generation facility would address the day to day medical oxygen needs of these hospitals and the district,” the statement said.

The decision to set up oxygen generation plants in the government hospitals across India has been hailed by Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

While sharing a tweet on the PM’s announcement, Assam health minister Sarma said on his Twitter handle on Sunday: “A very timely decision Hon PM. Thank you. This shall make our hospitals self-reliant for oxygen.”