Maharashtra seeks oxygen, 1,200 ventilators from Centre

MUMBAI: After requesting PM Modi to address leaders across parties to stop politics over the pandemic, CM Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday asked the Centre for more vaccine stocks, medical equipment and even oxygen, while suggesting curbs on misuse and export of Remdesivir that is being used to treat Covid patients.

He reiterated the demand to allow

vaccination

of everyone above 25 and said the Centre should let Haffkine Institute in the state manufacture vaccine. A proposal has been sent to the Centre, and once approved, the facility can generate 228 million doses per year.

There is a shortage of vaccine in the state and some vaccination centres are shut. “The central government has said 17.4 lakh doses will be given after April 15. The delay will hamper the vaccination drive. Therefore, vaccine stocks should be delivered as per our demand,” said Thackeray. The state needs 40 lakh doses every week to meet its objective of vaccinating 1.8 crore people in the priority groups. So far, 1.06 crore doses have arrived and 92-95 lakh have been administered.

With active cases going up in the state, Thackeray said the requirement for oxygen is set to rise and sought the Centre’s assistance for adequate supply. “It is expected that the demand for medical oxygen will go up to 1,700-2,500 MT by the end of this month,” said Thackeray. The state’s oxygen production capacity is 1,200 MT.

Maharashtra sought 1,200 more

ventilators

and repairing of some given earlier. As on Thursday, 40% of ventilator beds in the state were occupied, it was pointed out.

Thackeray also asked the Drugs Controller General of India to curb the misuse of injection Remdesivir and stop its export. “As of today, 50-60,000 vials oare being used (for treatment), which will go up to 1 lakh in the next few days. ICMR should finalise a use protocol,” he said.