COVID-19: J&K Govt to set-up oxygen generation plants in hospitals

Srinagar: With COVID-19 pushing up the demand for oxygen, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir plans to set-up oxygen generation plants in all medical colleges, associated hospitals and district hospitals of the Union Territory.

To begin with, the administration has proposed Rs 227 crore in J&K UTā€™s budget for setting up oxygen generation plants in all vital health institutions in the UTā€™s capitals and districts.

ā€œThirty seven oxygen generation plants in all medical colleges, associated hospitals and district hospitals of UT of J&K are being established to cope up with additional requirement of medical oxygen due to COVID-19 pandemic at a cost of Rs 227.73 crore,ā€ reads documents in possession of Precious Kashmir.

Last year, the Health & Medical Education had come under sharp criticism from different quarters over shortage of oxygen in hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. The demand for oxygen in hospitals had increased manifoldĀ  in J&K after the outbreak of COVID-19, with existing plants unable to bear the increasing patient load.

So far, Jammu and Kashmir has reported 1,29,031 COVID-19 cases- 75627 in Jammu and 52504 in Kashmir. The COVID-19 has also consumed 1983 lives in the UT including 1251 in Kashmir and 732 in Jammu.

The Economic Survey 2020-2021 presented in Parliament last month has claimed J&Kā€™s COVID19 mortality ā€œmore than expectedā€ while the number of cases was not as high as anticipated.

According to the report, J&Kā€™s reported COVID19 fatality was 9.6 (out of 100) more than estimated (naturally expected).

In the budget for next fiscal, J&K has earmarked Rs 40 crore as ex-gratia relief for COVID-19 warriors, documents reveal.

On August 14 last year, Jammu and Kashmir had announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia to the dependents/legal heirs of those health workers, including community health workers, who may lose their lives as a result of being in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients.

This announcement was in addition to Rs 50 lakh insurance cover being provided to healthcare workers who are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients under ā€œ Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.ā€

 

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