New Delhi: Amid the shortage of oxygen in the hospitals across the country during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Defence Ministry has decided to airlift 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany that will be deployed in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) hospitals catering to the patients.
These oxygen generating plants have a capacity to produce 40 litres of oxygen per minute and 2,400 litres an hour and can cater to 20-25 patients round the clock at this rate, according to the Union Defence Ministry.
These plants, which are easily portable, are expected to arrive in India within a week.
In another important decision, the Union Defence Ministry is giving an extension to Short Service Commissioned Doctors in AFMS till December 31, 2021 to tide over the current surge in medical services. This will augment the strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors.
Earlier on April 20, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a significant decision directed the armed forces and other stakeholders to go ahead with the procurement of critical medical requirements under emergency powers of procurement.
The Defence Minister, who held a virtual meeting to review the preparedness of the Ministry of Defence and armed forces to deal with the recent spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, also asked them to aid civilian administration to tide over the current situation.
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The Defence Ministry’s move comes as India recorded over three lakh cases for the second straight day on Friday with several hospitals reeling under shortage of medical oxygen and beds in view of the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases.