The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released 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, which will be led by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS, Delhi.
Speaking at the event, Union Health Secretary Smt Punya Salila Srivastava emphasised the importance of properly maintaining and utilising medical oxygen infrastructure to ensure prompt response to any surge in demand during emergencies. She highlighted the need to incorporate lessons from India’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic to improve preparedness.
Prof M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, underscored the institute’s role in leading the capacity-building programme. He stressed the importance of training and awareness at all levels of healthcare to enhance medical oxygen management across the country.
The release of the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management provides a framework for the procurement, storage, and administration of medical oxygen. The guidelines focus on patient safety, capacity building, and emergency preparedness to standardise best practices across healthcare facilities.
The National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management is an initiative led by the Disaster Management Cell of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi. The programme aims to train 200 master trainers across the country, who will then conduct capacity-building sessions for hospital administrators and medical officers. The initiative seeks to improve the handling and utilisation of medical oxygen, reduce wastage, and enhance clinical outcomes.
The workshop was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health, AIIMS, and medical professionals from across the country.
