Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is seeking to import oxygen for COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital emergency rooms in several areas amid a spike in infections, the Health Minister has disclosed.
"We have also coordinated with the industry minister to import 6 cubic meters and 1 cubic meter tubes of oxygen to meet additional needs in hospital emergency rooms," Budi Gunadi Sadikin said during a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR), which was monitored virtually from Jakarta on Monday.
The distribution of liquid oxygen to hospitals in large volumes using tanks is not optimal for meeting patient needs, the minister averred.
Since the majority of hospitals use oxygen cylinders for additional emergency rooms, they do not utilize liquid oxygen, he explained.
“So, there is a slight problem in distribution. Previously, oxygen could be delivered directly by putting it in a large liquid tank to be distributed within the oxygen network. Now, oxygen has to be delivered in canisters," he said.
Related news: Indonesia instructs oxygen supplies to be converted for medical use
During Monday’s working meeting, the minister reported that the current national oxygen production capacity totals 866 thousand tons per year. "However, the utilization of all factories is now only 75 percent," he pointed out.
Thus, in real terms, Indonesia’s oxygen production capacity is 640 thousand tons per year, Sadikin said. About 75 percent, or 458 thousand tons, of the oxygen serves industrial needs, he added.
For example, it is used in the production of steel, nickel and other industrial production, he continued.
"The quota for medical needs is only 25 percent, or 181,000 tons per year," said Sadikin.
The Industry Ministry is committed to converting industrial oxygen for medical purposes to produce 90 percent, or 575 thousand tons, of oxygen to meet medical demand amid the COVID-19 surge, he added.
Oxygen cylinders will be supplied to hospitals in the provinces of Central Java, West Java, and East Java, he disclosed.
"We have to provide logistics (support to allow the oxygen) to be distributed to hospitals," the minister said.
Related news: Oxygen for industrial use to be diverted for COVID patients
