All large hospitals in the national capital with 100 or more beds have been ordered by the Delhi High Court to instal Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants. According to the report, the bitter experience caused by an acute shortage of medical oxygen for treating COVID-19 has left a lesson to be learned.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh also directed the Delhi government’s principal secretary (health) to discuss PSA oxygen plants with hospitals and submit a status report by May 27.
Given that the pandemic occurs only once every century and will hopefully end sooner or later, the bench believes that larger hospitals with 100 beds or more should have their own PSA plants with a capacity of at least twice their normal requirement.
The court stated that because the plants will require some space for installation, it would be appropriate for municipal corporations and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to make some changes to building by-laws regarding coverage area, so that PSA plants can be installed in open parking spaces of hospitals.
Lawcutor 