Admits Lack Of Oxygen In Some Areas, Luhut: We Import

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The government admits that there is a shortage of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in a number of areas in the country. Thus, to meet this need, the government plans to import medical oxygen and encourage domestic production.

In fact, the Coordinator for the Implementation of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the oxygen import process is currently underway.

"Regarding oxygen, there is indeed a shortage in some places. But we will immediately give it and we will import it (oxygen, ed). Now it is on going," Luhut said as quoted from the YouTube Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, Monday, July 5.

In addition, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment also encourages domestic medical oxygen producers to allocate industrial needs into medical needs. At least, currently there are five producers who have been asked to do this to meet the oxygen needs for COVID-19 patients in the country.

"Of the five oxygen producers we asked for 100 percent given to health problems," said Luhut.

Adding Luhut's statement, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that later each province would form an oxygen task force. They will later be tasked with overcoming the problem of oxygen scarcity for COVID-19 patients in a number of hospitals.

"We will mobilize each of these task forces to adjust the existing supply to the demands of each hospital and also to transport logistics to each hospital from the existing producers," he said.

In addition, the government through the Ministry of Industry has also been asked to convert oxygen production from industrial needs to medical needs. In addition, he also confirmed that currently the government is also opening up opportunities to import to meet medical oxygen needs.

"The Coordinating Minister (Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhur Binsar Pandjaitan) has also given directions, if there is a shortage, the Ministry of Industry is asked to convert oxygen that was previously allocated from industry to hospitals and also import oxygen if necessary," concluded Budi.