Odisha Forms Task Force To Manage Production, Supply Of Medical Oxygen

Bhubaneswar: With a surge in COVID-19 cases in Odisha, the State government has formed a State-level task force to manage the production, supply chain and logistics of medical oxygen in the State.

“The prevailing pandemic has brought to the fore the critical requirement of adequate production and stocking of medical oxygen at state health facilities for treatment of patients. The State Government is according highest priority on efficient management of oxygen resources in all its facets. The supply-chain logistics of liquid oxygen and in-situ production of LMO in decentralized locations pose complex issues of coordination with multiple stakeholders, assessment and adoption of technological alternatives, investment and implementation with tight timelines” read a notification issued by the Odisha Health Department on Tuesday.

“Therefore, the Government has constituted a State-level task force for medical oxygen management to prepare and implement a plan for provisioning medical oxygen in all the healthcare facilities in the State,” the notification added.

Members of the task force:

Principal Advisor to Chief Minister (Chairperson)

Principal Secretary. Industries Department (Member)

Secretary. Works Department (Member)

Managing Director Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) (Member & Convener)

Managing Director, Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (Member)

Director of Industries (Member)

Drugs Controller (Member)

Representative from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) as National Industry Partner (Member)

Representative from Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ltd. (UCCI) as local industry partner (Member)

The Task Force will have the following key mandate as directed by the department.

A) Take up initiatives for increasing production and provisioning of medical oxygen in the State

B) Engage with various stakeholders to improve the availability of cylinders and tankers for storage of medical oxygen.

C) Take up activities to enhance the oxygen refilling capacity in the State.

D) Take up initiatives to facilitate smooth logistics arrangements for transport of medical oxygen.

E) To plan and implement in-situ production and distribution of medical oxygen in health facilities through piping systems.

F) Plan for long-term medical oxygen security in the State