Delhi Government Orders DMs To Deploy Teams At All Medical Oxygen Refilling Establishments, Plants In Every District To Prevent Hoarding

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority, GNCTD has asked all the District Magistrates to compulsorily deploy teams at all medical oxygen refilling establishments and plants falling under their districts "round the clock".

The order issued in this regard on Wednesday by the DDMA reads thus: 

"As you are aware that the availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of Medical Oxygen is an important pre-requisite for treating moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 during the present pandemic. Medical Oxygen IP is a drug item and cannot be sold in market without prescription. It is necessary to prevent any hoarding and pilferage of Medical Oxygen IP, smooth refilling of Oxygen gas cylinders and crowd management at such refilling establishments/plants."

According to the order, it has been stated that such teams deployed shall ensure that the Medical Oxygen IP shall be sold by the retailers or refillers strictly in accordance with their license conditions.

Furthermore, it has been provided that with regards to the requirements of hospitals or ambulances, the Medical Oxygen IP retailing refilling units, while duly complying with their license conditions, shall mandatorily check before selling the copy of ID Card of the person receiving the oxygen, authorisation letter from the institution for which the Oxygen is being sought and also record of the type or number of cylinders refilled.

"All District Magistrates shall send a consolidated 24 hourly daily report (12:00 midnight to 12:00 midnight) of their district the next day by 11:00 am positively to the Deputy Commissioner (HQ), O/o Divisional Commissioner, GNCTD on email idddma.delhi@nic.in with a copy to OSD (Health Department, GNCTD) at email idpshealth@nic.in." the order reads.

Further directions to the teams are as follows:

- When any Registered Doctor prescribes Medical Oxygen IP to any COVID-19 patient, the retailer (who is permitted to sell as per license conditions), shall only sell the prescribed Medical Oxygen IP to/for the patient, only after proper checking of (i) the Doctor's prescription, (ii) copy of ID card of patient and () ID card of the person receiving the oxygen.

- In view of increased foot-fall in Medial Oxygen IP retailing/ refilling units and resultant law and order issues hindering their seamless operation, the team shall ensure adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and also provide adequate safety during the operations of such oxygen refilling plants. Necessary assistance from police authorities may be sought in this regard.

- Effective crowd management shall be ensured by the team by implementing appropriate techniques including token system etc. All necessary steps shall be taken to avoid Overcrowding.

Click Here To Read Order