Shortage In Supplies, The Government Orders 10 Thousand Oxygen Concentrator Tubes From Singapore For COVID-19 Patients

A number of officers lift canisters filled with oxygen at the Oxygen Rescue Emergency Post, the National Monument (Monas) area, Jakarta, Monday (5/7/2021). (BETWEEN photo)

JAKARTA - The scarcity of oxygen and oxygen cylinders has forced the government to take tactical steps. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the government had ordered 10.000 oxygen concentrator cylinders from Singapore to meet the needs of COVID-19 patients in the country.

"Now we have ordered 10.000 and some have started to arrive using Hercules planes from Singapore, and we will also take them from other places if we lack them", said Coordinating Minister Luhut in a virtual press conference at the Presidential Secretariat Youtube broadcast, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 6.

Coordinating Minister Luhut, who is the Coordinator of the Java-Bali Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), explained that the concentrator oxygen cylinder was intended for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms. This oxygen concentrator can take oxygen from the air and be processed to then be inhaled by the patient.

From within the country, said Coordinating Minister Luhut, the government also continues to mobilize oxygen supplies for medical needs. Currently, 100 percent of the oxygen supply for the industry has been diverted for the needs of COVID-19 patients.

The government, he continued, supplies oxygen from Morowali (Central Sulawesi), Cilegon (Banten), and Batam (Riau Islands). "We have taken it from Morowali, it has arrived in Jakarta and can be seen in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. We also open oxygen in Cilegon (Banten) and also oxygen in Batam, and now we direct 100 percent of oxygen in the industry to help with health because we see the need for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, we direct this oxygen purely to help people who are isolated and in intensive care", said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Previously, Coordinating Minister Luhut had coordinated with the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) to take an inventory of the oxygen demand in each region.

The Ministry of Industry stated that oxygen gas producers were 100 percent obliged to shift their oxygen production to medical oxygen for the needs of COVID-19 patients. Through this obligation, 1.700 tons of oxygen can be obtained nationally per day, of which 1.400 tons are used for the island of Java. Small oxygen industries have also begun to be mobilized to convert their oxygen gas production to pharmaceutical oxygen.