Bhopal: With the rising challenge to combat the COVID-19 cases in the state, authorities have constituted a five-membered task force to take stock of the oxygen availability in the state. The task force will be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering Malay Shrivastava. Other officers are Transport commissioner Mukesh Jain, Secretary Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) P Narhari, member secretary State Policy and Planning Commission Swatantra Kumar Singh and MD Madhya Pradesh Public Health Service Corporation J Vijay Kumar. As per the notice, the task force will report the additional chief secretary (ACS), Health and Family Welfare Mohd Suleman about oxygen availability in the state.
This development stems from the recent emphasis the Centre made on Friday during a review meeting chaired by the Union Health Minister. Citing oxygen availability as the primary responsibility of the state authorities, the centre reviewed the preparedness status of the entire spectrum of oxygen equipment, including ventilators, PSA and oxygen plants, oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders, for timely and effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health ministry directed the states to ensure that all the oxygen equipment at all the health facilities are tested and kept in a functional state to meet any emergent situation.
Further, they have been instructed to optimally utilize the ECRP-II funds through daily reviews and update the centre on expenditure through the dedicated NHM-PMS portal so that they are eligible to receive adequate funds to strengthen the healthcare facilities up to the sub-district level.