Uttar Pradesh: ‘Home isolation patients get 29MT oxygen supply’

LUCKNOW: The state government on Thursday supplied 29.1 metric tonnes (MT) oxygen for patients in home isolation against the requirement of 48.9 MT, according to a report based on the data submitted by the district magistrates of all 75 districts.
Prepared by divisional commissioner and compiled by the department of food safety and drug administration (FSDA), the report shows that UP has over 1.6 lakh patients in home isolation.The demand for oxygen in home-isolation patients is the highest in Moradabad (8.9 MT) division. The supply of oxygen in this division, however, stood at 4.1 MT.
In Lucknow, 2.5 MT oxygen was supplied on Thursday against 4.9 MT sought by the administration.
The report shows that four divisions – Chitrakoot, Mirzapur, Prayagraj and Ayodhya – received 100% oxygen for home-isolated patients.
Interestingly, out of total 18 divisions, only Varanasi comprising four districts – Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur – reported no demand for oxygen for its 14,272 patients who were in home isolation.
Gorakhpur division, the home turf of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, received 5.4 MT of oxygen against the requirement of 5.9 MT. Two districts from this division, Kushinagar and Maharajganj, did not seek oxygen. Gorakhpur district alone demanded 5.4 MT oxygen while 0.5 MT was sought from Deoria, the government report shows.
As per the report, Lucknow (14,567), Meerut (8,250) and Varanasi (7,713) were top districts with home-isolation patients. At least 7,756 cylinders (including all four types AA, A, B & D) were in demand for home isolated patients across the state on Thursday. Of this, 3,890 cylinders were supplied. In terms of patients, 4,112 were provided cylinders.
Overall, 24 districts like Varanasi, Amethi, Hathras, Lalitpur, Kushinagar, Hardoi, Bhadohi, Kaushambi, Baghpat, Kanpur Dehat, Bahraich and Basti, among others, did not seek oxygen cylinders.
Principal secretary, food safety and drug administration, Anita Singh, said fluctuations in demand was common. “The demand is based on a rough calculation of the total number of home isolation patients in a district. About 12-15% are moderately ill and require oxygen cylinders,” she said.
“In smaller districts where there are no L3 hospitals, the movement of serious or moderately sick patients is towards bigger districts having more medical facilities,” she added.