According to the union health ministry, oxygen concentrators work the same way in supplying oxygen needed by the body such as oxygen tanks or cylinders, with the use of a cannula, oxygen masks or nasal tubes. The difference is that, while the cylinders need to be refilled, the oxygen concentrators can work 24 x 7.
Professor and Head of Department Anaesthesia, BJ Medical College, Pune, Prof Sanyogita Naik said, “Oxygen concentrators can be used only in moderate cases of Covid-19, when the patient experiences drop in oxygen levels, where the oxygen requirement is a maximum of 5 litres per minute. Oxygen concentrators are also very useful for patients experiencing post-COVID complications which necessitate oxygen therapy.” She added that depending upon the capacity, O2 Concentrators cost upwards of Rs 30,000.
According to the ministry, India has seen a big spurt in manufacture and sale of oxygen concentrators. Besides multinational brands, several Indian start-ups, funded under the CAWACH (Centre for Augmenting War with Covid-19 Health Crisis) programme of Department of Science & Technology, have developed efficient and cost effective oxygen Concentrators.
Given their usefulness during the second wave of Covid pandemic, 1 lakh oxygen concentrators are being procured through the PM CARES fund.
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