The state is unlikely to face Oxygen shortage to fight the second corona wave.
Apart from seven oxygen Plants, already sanctioned for five medical colleges and two zonal hospitals (DDU and Dharamsala), the government is setting up oxygen plants at five more hospitals. Of the initially sanctioned seven plants, three are ready and the remaining four will be functional before April 10, said Amitabh Awasthi, Secretary, Health. Besides, we are setting up five more plants in regional hospitals. These are all 200-bedded hospitals. The plants should be functional in around 2-3 months, said Awasthi.
Of the four makeshift Covid hospitals with a capacity of 234 beds, three are ready in Shimla, Tanda and Nalagarh. The makeshift hospital at Nerchowk is the biggest of all four. Its not ready, yet we have asked the CBRI, Roorkee, to complete its 60-bedded segment by March 31, said Awasthi.