Highlights
- Price regulation is needed for continued availability of oxygen: Ministry
- Manufacturers have hiked prices due to the absence of capping: Ministry
- Transportation cost will be fixed at the state level, for 6 months
New Delhi: To regulate the price of Liquid Medical Oxygen and Medical Oxygen cylinders for continued availability across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Friday has stepped in to put a cap on the prices of the same.
Also Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Things We Have Learned From The COVID-19 Pandemic
To cap the ex-factory price of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) at manufacturers end at Rs. 15.22/CUM exclusive of GST; and to further cap the ex-factory cost of Medical Oxygen Cylinder at filler end at Rs. 25.71/CUM exclusive of GST in the suppression of the existing Ceiling Price of Rs. 17.49/CUM, subject to transportation cost fixation at the state level, for six months, said the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the official release.
The release said the existing rate contracts of state governments for oxygen purchase, as applicable, shall continue, in consumer interest.
The ex-factory price cap of LMO and oxygen gas cylinders will be applicable to domestic production, it said.
As per the Ministry, the measures will ensure the availability of medical oxygen at consumers end at a reasonable price both at the hospital level and through oxygen cylinders, especially to distant and interior districts.
Also Read: COVID-19, Dengue Double Infection Treatment Complicated; Needs Balanced Approach: Experts
It added that the present situation of COVID-19 has resulted in increased demand of medical oxygen in the country, but due to the absence of a price cap on liquid medical oxygen, manufacturers have hiked prices to fillers.
Price regulation at this end is imperative for the continued availability of medical oxygen across the country, it said.
The Ministry said that to deal effectively with the situation, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOH&FW), has vide its letter dated September 23, conferred the delegation of powers under Section 10(2) (l) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to NPPA to take all necessary steps to immediately regulate the availability and pricing of LMO and Medical Oxygen in the cylinder.
Also Read: Highly Effective Coronavirus Antibodies Identified, May Lead To Passive COVID-19 Vaccine
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
[corona_data_new]
