Officials said today that the Defense Ministry has agreed to airlift 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany as many states face a severe shortage of medical oxygen due to a massive increase in coronavirus cases.
Each plant will be able to produce 40 liters of oxygen per minute and 2,400 liters per hour, according to the company.
The plants will be used to treat COVID-19 patients in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) hospitals, according to Principal Spokesperson in the Defence Ministry A Bharat Bhushan Babu.
The ministry’s announcement came four days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that the three services and other defense departments would be granted emergency financial powers to allow required procurement to improve medical facilities in the event of a pandemic.
“From Germany, 23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted. These will be used in AFMS hospitals where COVID patients are treated “Mr. Babu said.
The oxygen-generating plants are scheduled to be airlifted in a week, according to him.
According to another official, the Indian Air Force has been ordered to keep its transport aircraft ready to transport the plants from Germany until the required paperwork is completed.
More oxygen-generating plants may be imported from abroad, according to the official.
Mr. Babu explained, “The benefit of these plants is that they are conveniently portable.”
Due to an increase in COVID-19 infections, India is dealing with the second outbreak of coronavirus infection, and hospitals in many states are running out of medical oxygen and beds.
