Supreme Court-Appointed Task Force Suggests Oxygen Need Determination Formula

The active caseload of states and Union Territories as also the doubling rate should be the main factors in allotting oxygen, addressing both the current situation and the future demand, it said.

The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) has proposed a formula for determining the oxygen needs for the country, which takes into account all levels of care amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For example, 1.5 MT of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) required for a 100-bed hospital with 25 per cent ICU beds is a formulation that may be examined, the NTF said in its report submitted to the Supreme Court. "Such a formula will be part of a dynamic, evolving process and open to modification and consultation with states as the situation evolves," said the 12-member panel constituted by the top court on May 6. The active caseload of states and Union Territories as also the doubling rate should be the main factors in allotting oxygen, addressing both the current situation and the future demand, it said.