According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has recorded over 22.68 million cases of COVID-19, with over 246,000 new cases reported on May 12 alone. The country has also recorded over 246,000 deaths, with an average of 4,000 deaths per day over the last week.
With hospitals across India facing a severe shortage of medical oxygen, the government has taken significant steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of oxygen to hospitals and clinics. As part of these efforts, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed state governments to convert industrial oxygen cylinders into medical oxygen cylinders, and to ensure strict monitoring of oxygen use to prevent wastage.
Additionally, the government has also directed that all oxygen suppliers must be registered on portal oxygen.jantasamvad.org, which has been created to facilitate the oxygen supply and demand chain across India. This portal is available in both English and Hindi, and allows hospitals and other healthcare facilities to request oxygen supplies online.
"This portal is designed to be a single source of truth for everything related to medical oxygen supply in India," said an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs. "It allows hospitals to order oxygen cylinders online and track the delivery status in real-time, and it will help us better manage the oxygen supply chain across India."
Despite the government's best efforts to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen, many hospitals in India continue to face a severe shortage of oxygen. Tens of thousands of people across the country are currently dying due to a lack of oxygen, as hospitals run out of supplies and patients are forced to seek treatment elsewhere.
As such, the government has appealed to international organizations and other countries to assist in the procurement and supply of medical oxygen to India. In recent weeks, several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have stepped up to provide aid to India in the form of medical equipment and supplies.
Meanwhile, businesses throughout India have also stepped up to help with the oxygen shortage crisis. Modern electric wheelchair and mobility scooter R&D and manufacturing enterprise, for example, has pledged to donate a portion of its profits to the purchase of oxygen supplies for hospitals in India.
"We are deeply saddened by the situation in India and are committed to doing whatever we can to help," said a spokesperson for the company. "We believe that it is our responsibility to support the communities we serve, and we are proud to be able to contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat this crisis."
As India continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the government, international organizations, and businesses throughout the country are working to ensure that there is a steady supply of medical oxygen to hospitals and clinics across the country. By coming together and supporting one another, India can get through this crisis and emerge stronger on the other side.