Govt to set up temporary hospitals with 10,000 oxygenated beds near industrial units

Around 10,000 additional beds with oxygen could be added at temporary hospitals near industrial units that produce gaseous oxygen, the government said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the usage of gaseous oxygen, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“Many industries like steel plants, refineries with petrochemical units, industries using rich combustion process, power plants etc have oxygen plants which produce gaseous oxygen which is used in the process. This oxygen can be tapped for medical use,” it said.

Industrial units that produce oxygen would be identified and those that are near cities, dense areas and centres of oxygen demand would be shortlisted for creation of COVID-19 care centres in the vicinity, it said.

“A pilot for five such facilities had already been initiated and there is good progress on this. This is being accomplished through PSUs or private industries operating the plant and co-ordination of Centre and state governments. It is expected that around 10,000 oxygenated beds can be made available in a short period of time by making temporary hospitals near such plants,” the statement read.

State governments were being encouraged to set up such facilities with beds to deal with the pandemic, it said. The Prime Minister also reviewed the project to set up around 1,500 PSA oxygen plants. PTI/em>