The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public on Friday (May 8) that the country’s supply of oxygen tanks is “sufficient” for COVID-19 patients.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this assessment was based on the department’s survey of the oxygen tank supplies of over 1,000 hospitals.
She said around 14,000 oxygen tanks are being used by patients per day nationwide, while some 5,300 tanks are being used each day in the National Capital Region.
According to Vergeire, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has coordinated with three large suppliers of oxygen tanks in Cebu, Calamba, and Taguig. This is in preparation in case the need for oxygen supplies increases.
“Based from our data, ito pong ating current supplies, kung madodoble po per month ang ating mga kaso, ay sufficient pa ang ating mga needs for oxygen. But at the same time, ayaw pa rin po magkaroon ng complacency ng ating gobyerno, kaya po ang DTI ay talagang kinakausap na po ang mga nagpo-produce ng mga oxygen sa ating bansa so that we can have more,” she said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairperson Senator Richard Gordon said in Friday’s (May 8) Laging Handa press briefing that the organization is eyeing the creation of an oxygen generator plant to support the country’s oxygen supply.
“Nagmahal ang cylinder [oxygen tanks]. Sinulatan ko nga si [DTI] Sec. Lopez na pakitingnan ‘yan dahil [malaki ang itinaas ng presyo],” he added.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS-jlo
