The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management at a workshop held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. The event also marked the launch of the National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management, spearheaded by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS.
Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava underscored the importance of maintaining and efficiently using medical oxygen infrastructure to ensure preparedness for emergencies. She highlighted the significance of applying lessons learned from India's COVID-19 management experience.
AIIMS Director Prof. M Srinivas reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to leading the capacity-building initiative and emphasized the need for training and awareness across all levels of healthcare.
The guidelines serve as a comprehensive resource for standardizing medical oxygen procurement, storage, and administration across healthcare facilities. They prioritize patient safety, resource management, and emergency readiness.
Under the National Capacity Building Programme, the Disaster Management Cell of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with AIIMS, will train around 200 master trainers. These trainers will subsequently build the capacities of hospital administrators and medical officers nationwide, ensuring the effective management of medical oxygen, minimizing wastage, and enhancing clinical outcomes.
The workshop was attended by senior health ministry officials, AIIMS representatives, and medical professionals from across the country.