GUWAHATI:

The Assam Health Department on Monday informed that the state currently has a surplus stock of Remdesivir injections and medical oxygen, apart from an adequate number of ICUs and COVID beds to meet the requirements for at least 10 days.

“During the past 10 days, we have, after a review, rejuvenated our old plants and set up new PSA (pressure swing adsorption) plants while oxygen capacity has been increased to 61 MT (metric tonnes) per day as against a current requirement of 20 MT per day,” Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told newsmen here on Monday.

“Oxygen storage capacity has also been increased to 468 MT. I feel our oxygen situation should remain stable in the next ten days,” Sarma said, adding that three oxygen plants set up at GMCH, are functional now while three more plants will be operationalised in the next seven days.

Besides, the minister said that 50 metric tonnes of oxygen would be available in the next 45 days from Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan.

Regarding Remdesivir injections, the Health Minister said that there was a decent stock of 25000 injections and that under a new scheme, patients of nursing homes and private hospitals will be provided Remdesivir injections at government-procured rates.

“We have a stock of 2500 injections for nursing homes kept at an emergency store. Besides, there are 1000 vials for patients from Assam living outside the state," Sarma said.

Sarma also said that in the past 10 days, a substantial number of ICU beds have been added to the existing infrastructure.

“The number of ICU beds has increased to 92 in Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, 24 in Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital and 38 in Kalapahar COVID hospital. So we have 154 ICU beds in three hospitals currently against the capacity of 52 patients at present,” he said.

The number of COVID beds to have been enhanced as well.

“Currently, we have 2120 beds as against 1852 active patients. So, there is no reason to be concerned or panic,” he added.

TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.

ALSO READ: Assam police constable arrested in connection with ONGC abduction case