The World Health Organization has established two oxygen plants in Bhutan in order to aid in ameliorating medical services in the region.
Oxygen Plants Inaugurated Today
Two oxygen generator plants were inaugurated in Bhutan today, marking a significant step towards bolstering the country’s health system resilience and emergency response capabilities. The primary goal of these newly established plants is to enhance Bhutan’s preparedness to address health crises by ensuring a steady supply of medical oxygen.
These plants, known as the Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plants have been strategically positioned at two pf the most prominent medical facilities in Bhutan: the first at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, the national capital of the country and the second, at the Mongar Regional Referral Hospital, a crucial tertiary care institution. Notably, this initiative is noteworthy in particular as it represents the first medical oxygen support project by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region.
Minister of Health speaks
The inauguration event for these life-saving oxygen plants featured the presence of the country’s Minister of Health, Ms Dasho Dechen Wangmo, who expressed her gratitude to the Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh for emphasizing the vital role of oxygen in healthcare. Ms Dasho Dechen Wangmo highlighted the satisfaction that comes with the ability to generate oxygen in their domestic sphere, underscoring the oxygen generator plants as a symbol of the country’s self-sufficiency. She also expressed the anticipation of further collaboration with the global health body who serves as a pivotal partner in advancing public health in Bhutan.
This initiative took shape following a request from the Ministry of Health in Bhutan, which led to WHO’s provision of specifications and funding for the project. The necessary equipment was procured from a company in Slovakia, and the installation was successfully executed with the assistance of a technical associate based in Nepal. This collaborative effort exemplifies the shared commitment to fortify healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Regional Director’s Address
Addressing the event through virtual means, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, emphasized the project’s dual values: collaboration and the application of lessons learned. These values align with the region’s longstanding priorities and reflect a commitment to collective action in addressing healthcare challenges.
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the vulnerabilities within medical oxygen systems, resulting in dire consequences, states the organization. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh stressed the urgency of preventing the repetition of such a serious scenario and brought to light the need to ensure the resilience of medical oxygen systems across all the countries of the world. This imperative aligns with the WHO’s regional roadmap on health security and health system resilience for emergencies, which highlights the necessity of robust healthcare systems that can withstand critical shocks.
Beyond the immediate focus on respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and pneumonia, the Regional Director highlighted the multifaceted benefits of these plants. Strengthening healthcare system resilience extends to a range of conditions, including sepsis, trauma, and complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. The oxygen plants thus serve as a fundamental resource that can mitigate the impact of various health challenges, supporting Bhutan’s efforts to safeguard its population’s well-being.
The inauguration of the two oxygen generator plants in Bhutan signifies a crucial milestone in advancing the country’s health system preparedness. This collaborative endeavour between Bhutan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization demonstrates the commitment to robust healthcare infrastructure and the collective goal of ensuring access to life-saving medical resources. As Bhutan continues to strengthen its healthcare capabilities, it stands as an exemplar of proactive measures to secure public health, even in the face of unforeseen emergencies.
