THE BREATH CRISIS

Air-air everywhere, not an ounce to breathe. As India’s coronavirus death poll passes 200,000 and
still rising with such vehemence the mundane response of the government is something that needs a
stare. Newspapers, social media, and television have abounded with stories related to the deaths of
people who could have lived if they were provided with adequate supplies, be it oxygen or other
drugs. India is witnessing one of the most catastrophic times yet we can hardly witness any serious
efforts made on the ground. “These people killed him. They didn’t give him oxygen. They didn’t tell
us anything about an oxygen shortage,” says kin of a woman who died due to a dearth of oxygen in
Jaipur Golden Hospital, New Delhi. The national capital is worst affected by this acute deficiency of
oxygen in the country. The premature celebration of supremacy over Covid-19 is one of the primary
reasons behind this existing crunch. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family
Welfare had already warned the central government over the existing oxygen crisis in government but
as usual, it hardly convinced the stakeholders to take any adequate steps. Where we stand today is a
product of negligence that we all showed during the past few months.

Current scenario
Apart from remdesvir, fabiflu, and other drugs which are also witnessing an acute shortage, medical
oxygen remains on the top of the list. Indian government’s data shows that nation has a production
capacity of 7,127 metric tonnes per day but supply chains are not being managed properly. Oxygen
plants are far from the states who need them the most. The facilities from where Delhi is now
receiving oxygen are 1000 KM away. Oxygen, being of hazardous nature, need to be transported in
specialized tankers which are also facing a shortage due to intensified demand. People are dying on
roads, outside hospitals gasping for air. We can witness a common scenario all over the nation which
mainly includes people trying to procure cylinders or running to get them refilled. A common man
with a nominal income that is affected by the current financial scenario can’t even afford medical
treatment in these unprecedented times. Most of the hospitals are not allowing new admissions as the
whole system is collapsing day by day. India, on Thursday, witnessed a total of 3,498 deaths which is
rising every day. Manufacturing more cryogenic cylinders can take up to 4 months but do we have
time? Apparently, No. Crematoriums are overloaded and there is a sense of fear among the citizens.
Dreadful pictures are already being published everywhere showing the gravity of the cataclysm.
States like Uttar Pradesh are claiming that they don’t have any oxygen shortage and arresting people
for amplifying their needs on social media. This is something that cannot be claimed as a democracy
but an “elected autocracy”. The government of India is taking few steps that may lead to the
betterment of the situation in the upcoming days.

Way forward
As per a report dated back to September 2020, the centre drafted a 5-point plan to cure oxygen
shortage which mainly included a 24x7 green corridor for movement of liquid medical oxygen tankers
within and outside a state; scrapping time restrictions for trucks carrying oxygen cylinders to enter
city limits; creation of an inter ministerial control group to monitor oxygen supply and demand in
real-time; creation of a micro-level management system to monitor the upkeep of oxygen pipelines,
cryogenic tanks, etc; and stricter checks in states on hoarding and black marketing of oxygen. But we
can hardly witness any implementation on the ground level. States are procuring supplies from the
international market. The same is being done by the state government at a national level. Mobile
oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from U.S.A., Germany, and France. Though every state is
unequivocal about their steps still we wish all these steps are implemented on the ground the same
way as they appear on papers. The situation is harrowing but there always remains hope amid despair.
Many social organizations are working to ameliorate the status and constantly helping the needy. The
armed forces are also playing their significant role by airlifting stocks that are being provided by the
international community. Modified lockdowns are being announced by different states that may help
in containing the virus to some extent. While Supreme Court already addressed the situation as a
“national health emergency” and said the central government to prepare a national plan, people still
wait to hear something meaningful from the Prime Minister’s podium.
JITESH DHAWAN