Odisha forms 9-member task force to ensure medical oxygen security

Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced to constitute a State-level Task Force over medical oxygen security, the State Government today named its chairperson and members.

As per a notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister will be the Chairperson of the nine-member State-Level Task Force.

Other members of the task force are the Principal Secretary of Industries Department, Secretary of Works Department, Managing Director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd, Director of Industries, Drugs Controller, Representative from Federation of Indian Member Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) as National Industry Partner and Representative from Utkal Chamber of Member Commerce and Industry Ltd (UCCI) as local industry partner.

The Managing Director of Industrial Promotion & Member Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) will be the task force’s Member Convener, the notification added.

The task force will take up initiatives for increasing production and provisioning of medical oxygen in the State. Also, it will engage with various stakeholders to improve the availability of cylinders and takers for shortage of medical oxygen.

It will take up activities to enhance the oxygen refilling capacity in the state as well.

Also, the task force will take up initiatives to facilitate smooth logistics arrangements for transport of medical oxygen.

It will plan and implement in-situ production and distribution of medical oxygen in health facilities through piping systems.

Moreover, the task force will plan for long-term medical oxygen security in the state.

Worth mentioning, the Chief Minister during an all-party meeting called by State Assembly Speaker SN Patro yesterday declared to constitute a task force over medical oxygen management.