Uddhav Thackeray also demanded 70,000 remdesivir vials per day, up from the 27,000 allocated
CM Uddhav Thackeray, too, had recently suggested airlifting oxygen supplies for faster delivery. Pic/Twitter
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for oxygen and remdesivir supply directly proportional to the active COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra.
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He has asked for another 300-350 metric tonnes (MT) oxygen, in addition to the 1,500 MT the state needs daily, to meet future requirements. With regard to Remdesivir, he has asked for at least 70,000 vials per day as against the 27,000 allocated.
IAF planes air-lift oxygen tankers from Air Force Station Hindan in UP to Panagarh in West Bengal in support of COVID-19 mitigation. Pic/Twitter
Thackeray placed the state’s demands during a meeting the PM had with the CMs of pandemic-affected states on Friday. Thackeray had suggested air-lifting oxygen recently and reiterated the demand while presenting Maharashtra’s cause. He demanded 13,000 jumbo oxygen cylinders and 1,100 ventilators.
Currently, Maharashtra has over 60,000 patients requiring oxygen. There are 76,300 oxygen beds and 25,000 ICU beds. The daily oxygen requirement is 1,550 MT, of which 300-350 MT is being brought from other states. However, since the providing states are at long distances, the CM wants the Centre to make oxygen available from neighbouring states. “We need the air force’s assistance and intervention of the National Disaster Management Department to reduce the time (ro-ro) railways take,” Thackeray said.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the railways and Indian Air Force (IAF) were being deployed to reduce travel time of oxygen tankers. “PM Modi stated that the central government is working on all possible options to reduce the travel time and turnaround time of oxygen tankers. For this, the railways have started oxygen express. Empty oxygen tankers are also being transported by IAF to reduce one-way travel time,” said a press release.
As per the PMO, the PM has said that every state should ensure that no oxygen tanker is stopped or gets stranded. The PMO added that Modi will attend a meeting later in the day to discuss all options to ramp up oxygen supply.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said 10 per cent of total active patients need oxygen. He said the state was also ramping up the capacity by finding novel ways and making industries participate.
“The sugar mills have been asked to give their cylinders and the option of oxygen production in sugar mills is being explored. Mr Sharad Pawar has taken an initiative in this regard,” he said.
Need 70k Remdesivir daily
Thackeray demanded that remdesivir injections should be supplied on the basis of active cases. “We can’t say how useful this injection is, but it definitely reduces the patient’s stay in hospital,” he said, adding that the Centre should also work on the availability of other essential medicines and drugs.
He wanted the Centre to study a double mutant found in Maharashtra for its genome sequencing which can help in treatment.
PM Modi asked states to check hoarding and black marketing of oxygen and medicines (like Remdesivir).
On Thursday, state BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye had dismissed the claim that the Centre gave Maharashtra only 26,000 vials every day.
“Actually, the Maharashtra Government placed a requirement of 26,000 per day for 10 days, and the Centre gave what was demanded. The state should estimate the requirement correctly instead of blaming the Centre for everything,” he said.
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