Medical Oxygen PSA units dedicated at ‘Sir T Hospital’, Bhavnagar

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya today virtually inaugurated two PSA plants at Sir Takhtasinhji hospital, Bhavnagar in the presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Along with 2 Oxygen Generation plants of 1000 LPM capacity each, copper piping network and associated facilities like fire fighting system and automatic oxygen source changeover system were also inaugurated.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said, “This facility is dedicated to the people of Bhavnagar. Similar such facilities inaugurated recently would help the country in times of crisis.” Reiterating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for the country, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said that the country is working in the spirit of Lok-Bhagidari through a “whole of society” approach to keeping the country safe from COVID. The Union Health Minister noted the cooperation people showed during lockdowns in maintaining COVID Appropriate Behaviour and social distancing norms to beat the first COVID-19 wave. “It is an evidence of sheer cooperation among different stakeholders from both public and private sector that we ramped up our oxygen capacity that was mere 4000 MT (metric tonne) to more than 12,000 MT in a short span of time’, he stated.

On the continuing challenge of COVID-19 in front of us, Shri Mandaviya mentioned that “We have learnt a lot from the second wave like oxygen supply, hospital beds and medicines. We have now ensured adequate funds in every district for buying critical care medical requirements in an emergency. The Cabinet has recently approved Rs. 23,000 crore package for Covid-19 emergency response. We have made adequate provisions for paediatric care in all hospitals to provide the most effective healthcare for children. We are also developing a system of buffer stock at State and centre level that can be used in case of any health crisis. Thus, a comprehensive plan and capacity building in next 6 months is being taken up through this COVID package.”

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal thanked Shri Mandaviya for taking the initiative and installing the oxygen plant for the welfare of the people of Gujarat. Shri Sonowal said that Prime Minister has given the agenda of development of the country and we need to work together and round the clock to achieve this goal. He said the facility installed at Sir T Hospital will help in the fight against Corona.

The Deendayal Port Trust through its Corporate Social Responsibility has installed 02 nos. of large Medical Oxygen PSA units at ‘Sir T Hospital’, at the total cost of Rs. 2.53 Crores. The installed PSA oxygen generator unit is of having a capacity of 1000 litres per minute each, i.e., 60,000 liters/hr. at 5-6 bar pressure of each unit totalling 1,20,000 which can be utilized for the treatment of COVID as well as other patients at the hospital. The system will eliminate the hardship of frequent refilling the cylinders for treatment of patients, and will ensure a smooth and continuous oxygen supply to the hospital.

The PSA Oxygen generation unit generates pure oxygen gas by the continuous process of pressure swing adsorption & desorption methods through imported Molecular oxygen sieves in pressurized & de-pressurized states in the unit and finally delivers oxygen of minimum 93% purity.

Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union MoS for MoPSW and Tourism, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Union MoS for MoPSW, Smt. Vibhavariben Dave, MoS for Women & Child Development, Government of Gujarat, Dr. Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shiyal, MP, Bhavnagar, Ms. Kirti Danidhariya, Mayor, Bhavnagar and Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan along with the senior officials of the Deen Dayal Port Trust were present on the occasion.