Haryana FDA tells oxygen suppliers to give preference to COVID-19 hospitals

The Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a direction to All Air Separation Units (ASUs) situated in Haryana to act promptly and give preferential supply of liquid medical oxygen and medical oxygen to dedicated COVID-19 hospitals (DCHs), dedicated COVID-19 health centres (DCHCs) and all institutions/ hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. It has also instructed them to follow the fixed ceiling prices of oxygen.

Narendra Ahooja, State Drug Controller, Haryana has issued an order to all ASUs including; medical oxygen manufacturing units, filling medical oxygen cylinders using liquid oxygen from ASUs to give prompt and preferential supply of liquid medical oxygen and medical oxygen to COVID–19 hospitals and medical oxygen IP fillers.

In the letter, the state FDA has stated that since COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO and the surge in COVID-19 cases, there is an increased demand of medical oxygen for treatment and management of critical COVID–19 patients who are on oxygen or on ventilation support. Therefore, Medical Oxygen (O2 IP), a drug and a lifesaving necessity, is considered as an essential commodity for the treatment of COVID-19 patient. Hence, it is important to follow the order issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India (NPPA) dated March 20, 2020, of fixing the ceiling prices of oxygen at Rs 17.49 per cubic meter.

Ahooja said, “This is a precautionary measure which we took after sensing the increased demand for medical oxygen in the country. Although there is no shortage of medical oxygen in the country, this step is in a direction to cater to the need of our DCHs and DCHCs in the state.”

Through the letter, Ahooja has also strictly warned all oxygen manufacturer filling units and ASUs to not to indulge in black marketing, profiteering and hoarding of medical oxygen and supply of medical oxygen or medical liquid oxygen.

Informing about the initiated measures to prevent such activities, Ahooja stated, “The State FDA’s all senior drugs control officers in the field have been directed to obtain production and sale records of medical oxygen and medical liquid oxygen under Section 18 of Drugs Act and ensure smooth supply chain of oxygen in the state.”

Presently, in the state, there are a total of 21 health facilities/ medical colleges involved in providing the treatment of coronavirus infections. At present, the state has a total of 12622 active cases of COVID-19, of which 255 patients are on the medical oxygen support system.

So far, in the state, a total 1159 number of plasma units have been collected from COVID-19 recovered patients and till date 752 COVID-19 patients were given plasma therapy treatment.

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