Puan Maharani Urges Jokowi's Government To Move Quickly To Handle Oxygen Scarcity

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, emphasized that the issue of oxygen scarcity for COVID-19 patients in a number of areas must be followed up by the government. Especially in Java and Bali, which are currently implementing Emergency PPKM.

"Besides the depletion of beds, another problem is the scarcity of oxygen for COVID-19 patients. The central government must move more systematically and quickly to deal with it," said Puan in her statement to reporters, Monday, July 5.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture assessed that the problem of oxygen scarcity cannot be overcome by reactive means alone, but must be anticipated as early as possible. One of them by utilizing digital technology.

"The use of digital information technology must be maximized to obtain solid and transparent data so that the availability of hospital beds and oxygen in various cities can be mapped," he said.

According to Puan, data collection and mapping, the availability of oxygen can be distributed as needed. For cities that are already running low, he said, they can be sent from the nearest city or supplied from the central government.

"So the oxygen does not have time to run out first," he said.

The chairman of the PDIP DPP also urged the government to immediately execute the policy of diverting oxygen for industrial needs into medical oxygen.

"The government has decided that 90 percent of the national oxygen production will be used for medical needs. This policy must be executed immediately," he said.

Puan also asked that the supervision of oxygen supply from producers to consumers be tightened so that there is no buildup on the one hand and shortages on the other.

"Currently, there are a lot of oxygen shortages experienced by hospitals on the island of Java, so the temporary diversion of oxygen supplies from outside the region to Java can also be considered," said Puan.