Amidst report of shortages of oxygen cylinder and black marketing of medicines like Remdesivir, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday assured that there is no shortage of oxygen in any private or public Covid hospital in the state.
“There is no shortage of oxygen in any COVID hospital, be it private or government. The problem is black marketing and hoarding, which will be tackled with a heavy hand. We will conduct an oxygen audit in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, IIM Lucknow and IIT BHU for proper monitoring of oxygen. The system of live tracking of oxygen demand, supply and distribution will be implemented.”
“Every infected patient does not need oxygen, cooperation is expected from the media in increasing awareness about this,” he said.
He acknowledged that there were some initial problems in increasing the number of hospital beds in the state but they were quickly overcome.
The UP government has acquired 750 tons of oxygen from the Centre and the 81 units across the state are producing more than 900 tons of oxygen per day.
Additionally, a 24×7 control room has been made active for this purpose where officials will review the availability of the stock on a daily basis.
Earlier also the CM Yogi said that the National Security Act and the Gangsters Act will be invoked against anyone hoarding and black-marketing lifesaving drugs and oxygen. The government will also take steps to confiscate their properties.
Uttar Pradesh is currently the second worst-hit state by the Covid-19 infection. The state recorded 37,944 cases on April 24.
