- With the need for oxygen cylinders increased by 76 per cent in India, the supply chain has been crushed by an acute crisis
- Hospitals strewn across Western and Northern India are worst vulnerable to the dreadful low in oxygen repository
- Kunal Shah, Founder at CRED, strives to build a reliable inventory of oxygen to lower down COVID deaths
The daily production capacity of oxygen in India is 7,127 MT but its medical requirement for oxygen has stretched far beyond by approximately 76 per cent within a span of 10 days– from 3,842 MT on April 12 to 6,785 MT on April 22. With the onslaught of a deadly covid-19 second wave, oxygen demand has surged manifold. Before the pandemic tiptoed in 2019, India had managed with 750-800MT liquid medical oxygen (LMO) and spared a bit more for the industrial sector. The statistics have been completely distorted since April 2021 with the states gasping for oxygen cylinders.
Western India primarily Gujarat and Maharashtra, as well as Northern Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Varanasi and Rajasthan, are worst hit by the acute shortage of oxygen. Oxygen supply has dwindled to a staggering low leaving the healthcare units on the brink of complete collapse. COVID19 patients are being turned away from the doorsteps of government and private-funded hospitals since the basic amenity- oxygen is unavailable even in the best healthcare edifices of the country. In COVID19, high infection rates have completely outstripped the medical centres of any power, and India has sadly been caught on the wrong foot in the battle for breath.
The nightmare in hospitals has been put on loop. Appeals from medical authorities and patients’ families have fallen on deaf ears. The absence of oxygen cylinders at crucial junctures have led to the deaths of thousands each day. The common people have been left in the lurch about what happens tomorrow should somebody close to them be the next victim. Families have lost young members and sole bread earners. Without active efforts into building a strong oxygen bank, there is no telling when the nation’s collective agony will subside.
Entrepreneur Kunal Shah at CRED is fervently expanding India’s oxygen capacity intake to streamline the treatment procedures in the hospitals and quicken the recovery process of COVID19 infected patients. The post was well-received, hundreds have shared resources on the post. A quick chat with Kunal revealed his interest to arrange supplies for:
- PSA Plants (both Indian and Foreign) but those which can be deployed in a war Mode. Available ex stock.
- Hospitals that need them to be delivered on an immediate basis (special focus North India Delhi and Mumbai).
- Cryogenic Containers (Any gas) but which can be deployed on an immediate basis, for Oxygen transportation.
- Any innovative idea which helps deliver Oxygen in the quickest and shortest possible way to Hospitals and patients.
- Costs involved in any of these activities/ and if they can be reduced or given as grants.
- Contact of Air force personnel, Govt. of India officials involved in this activity.
The initiative has been launched with the intent to alleviate general suffering that has now escalated to a major humanitarian crisis. We are sure, with Indian industries coming together, the initiatives undertaken by industry can help India fight the deadly second wave of COVID19. If you are aware of any special projects undertaken by industries in the COVID19 fight, do share us an email to covid@themachinemaker.com
