The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday, 28 April, announced that one lakh portable oxygen concentrators will be procured using the PM CARES fund. Five hundred new PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) oxygen plants have also been sanctioned under the PM CARES fund, in addition to 713 plants sanctioned earlier.
This development comes amid a horrific surge in COVID-19 cases that has paralysed the healthcare infrastructure in many parts of the country, and an acute reported paucity of oxygen in many states.
Tweeting the same information, PM Modi said:
“One lakh portable oxygen concentrators will be procured, 500 more PSA oxygen plants sanctioned from PM-CARES. This will improve access to oxygen, specially in district HQs and Tier-2 cities.”
The PMO said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed that one lakh portable oxygen concentrators be procured through the fund at the earliest, and provided to states with the highest case burden.
The government on Wednesday said, “PSA plants, portable oxygen concentrators will help provide oxygen supply near demand clusters, addressing logistical challenges.”
“PSA plants will augment the supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen at hospitals in district headquarters and Tier 2 cities,” the PMO said.
On Wednesday, India breached the 3,000-mark for daily COVID-related deaths for the first time and a record 3,293 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s death toll to 2,01,187. On 2 October 2020, India crossed 1 lakh COVID-related deaths, and subsequently the 1.5 lakh mark on 6 January 2021.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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