le-Home NEWS LIVE TV APP MAGAZINE HOME Newg)/Get@navirus Outbreak / Parliamentary panel had alerted about oxygen shortage in February, says Congress Parliamentary panel had alerted about oxygen shortage in February, says Congress ELECTIONS Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken referred to a report by the Parliamentary Panel and said the emergency situation of hospitals running short on oxygen supplies could have been avoided had the government taken note of early warnirgs. INDIA ‘ADVERTISEMENT FACT CHECK ‘Anand Fatel New Delhi April 25, 2021 UPDATED: April 25, 2021 16:33 IST OO @ 8 8 0 CB Listen a Photo for representation ongress spokesperson Ajay Maken referred to a report by the Parliamentary C Panel and said the emergency situation of hospitals running short on oxygen supplies could have been avoided had the government taken note of early warnings. The Parliamentary Panel on Health, in its report tabled in February, had asked the Centre to ensure adequate supply of oxygen to hospitals as per demand. Areport titled ‘Outbreak of Covid pandemic and its management’ prepared by the Parliamentary panel on Health and Family Welfare tabled in the Parliament on February 2 during budget session this year had alerted the government of impending oxygen crisis. The House panel had observed: "The pandemic has led to an unprecedented increase in the demand for non-invasive Oxygen Cylinders and instances of lack of Oxygen Cylinders in the hospitals had also been reported.” The committee had strongly advocated the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authoritytake appropriate measures for capping the price of the oxygen cylinders so that the availability, as well as affordability of the Oxygen Cylinders, is ensured in all hospitals for medical consumption. The committee had also recommended the government for encouraging adequate production of oxygen for ensuring its supply as per demand in the hospitals. Referring to the report, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken told mediapersons that the House panel has mentioned oxygen 40 times in its 190-page report. "The committee had made strong recommendations to the Government to increase the number of hospital beds with oxygen and ICUs equipped with ventilators, but these early warnings were ignored," he said. "The situation we are facing today is not due to any natural calamity but government's incompetence,' Ajay Maken said, Ajay Maken also told mediapersons on Saturday that out of eight oxygen generator units sanctioned for Delhi, the Kejriwal government could set up only one. He alleged that both the Centre and the Delhi government are engaged in a slugfest over the issue to divert public attention from their failures. “Eight oxygen generator units were sanctioned by the Centre for Delhi, but the Kejriwal government which spent Rs 822 crore in the last two years could set up only one unit," he further said. Maken said, "Modi ji and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal are doing nothing but blaming each other to hide this failure."The House panel, in its recommendations, had also warned the government about the second wave of the pandemic. Its report said, "The second wave of Covid-19 has been witnessed in European countries and the Committee, therefore, feels that India must also be prepared to combat a possible second wave of Corona especially in the ensuing winter season and super spreading series of festive events.” Also read: IAF airlifts oxygen containers from Singapore to mitigate shortage in In Listen as Covid-19 rages Also read: 25 patients die due to oxygen shortage: Jaipur Golden Hospital to Delhi HC Get Newspresso, our morning newsletter Enter your ema f y Posted by Iram Ara Ibrahim POST A COMMENT (0)