COVID-19: Sikkim CM inaugurates second oxygen plant at STNM Hospital

Gangtok: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Sikkim CM PS Golay on Tuesday inaugurated a new Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plant at STNM Hospital in Gangtok. The new plant with a capacity of 1,000 litres per minute (LPM) is the second such facility with a 500-LPM oxygen plant already in place in the hospital.

The new plant was allocated to the state government under the PM Cares Fund. Civil work for its installation started on May 28.

Besides the new plant, four other oxygen plants coming up at all the four district hospitals and a 1000-LPM bottling plant at Rangpo will ensure that the state government has enough supply of medical oxygen to deal with any health crisis.

Meanwhile, a 120-KV generator backup for the newly installed oxygen plant at STNM Hospital will be sanctioned immediately and made available in the next 15 days.

The state government will also appoint technical staff to operate and maintain the oxygen plant at STNM Hospital as well as the upcoming ones in the four districts.

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While addressing the medical fraternity after the inauguration programme, CM Golay lauded the effort of the team involved in the process of installation of the new oxygen plant.

“This is yet another milestone achieved by the state in terms of strengthening its health infrastructure. The entire credit goes to the health department. The present crisis caused by the pandemic has drawn everyone’s attention towards the health sector, and there is heightened awareness among the public,” he said.

Golay reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to defeat the pandemic and work towards rebuilding Sikkim and putting it back on the track of development.

“The government has put the highest priority on the health sector and efforts are on to make the health care system in Sikkim the best in the country. The vision of the government is to ensure quality health care within the state for all its residents. The government will not rest till this is achieved,” he said.

The CM also acknowledged the relentless effort of the state-level oxygen management committee headed by transport minister Sanjit Kharel. He thanked the entire team for ensuring timely management and transportation of medical oxygen.

Meanwhile, on the occasion, SEED Cell contributed 3,000 PPE kits, 700 pulse oximeters, 1,000 immunity boosters and 2 lakh face masks to the health department as a token of support during the pandemic.