PSA Oxygen plants: Hon. Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi will inaugurate today and present 35 new Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) initiated by the Prime Minister Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation, or PM CARES at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh in Uttarakhand on 07 October 2021, Thursday. These 35 PSA oxygen plants are in 35 states and Union Territories.
According to Prime Minister’s Office wing, 1224, such Plants funded by PM CARES, he tweeted, “I will be in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand tomorrow, 07 October. 35 Oxygen plants across various States and UTs would dedicate vital healthcare infrastructure to the nation for larger public benefit.”
The statement also noted that the project to commission a PSA plant was executed when “dealing with demanding challenges of hilly areas, islands and territories with rugged terrain. More than 7000 personnel look after operations and maintenance of these plants, the statement said.
PM Cares Fund
PM CARES Fund was created on 27 March 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic affected India; dedicated national fund with the primary motive is dealing with any type of emergency or distress situation that comes up like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide relief to the affected public.
Oxygen Generation Plants
Hospitals across India ran out of oxygen in April and May 2021 during a deadly second wave. There were daily reports of people due to lack of oxygen.
The second Covid wave ravaged India in the beginning. The shortage of oxygen became a crucial resource for patients as the coronavirus is known to target the lungs, and it caused to emerge as a major crisis around the country.
The government has made it mandatory rules for all medical college hospitals being established from the current financial year to get dedicated pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) technology plants within a maximum of six months. In India, all new medical college hospitals are applicable for their oxygen generation plants within six months and require their oxygen generation plants within six months.
The government has made it a mandatory rule for all medical college hospitals established from the current financial year to need particular pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) technology plants within a maximum of six months.
The National Medical Commission regulates medical education in India, has notified amendments in Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admission Regulations, 2020.
Initially announced in October 2020, the regulations did not prescribe this condition to establish the emergency medicine department. The move follows a severe shortage of medical oxygen, which the country faced at the peak of the Covid-19 second wave in May.
The Centre has emphasized the need for all government and medical college hospitals to require the flow of oxygen supply.
The second wave had exposed chinks in the supply chain as the high oxygen demand had increased manifold with the amendments in rules. Medical colleges will apply for renewal of permission or increase in intake capacity of medical students.
