Give, PATH complete installation of 76 oxygen generation plants across 22 states/UTs

New Delhi: Social impact organisations Give and PATH announced the completion of their joint endeavour to install and commission 76 pressure awing absorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants in 22 states and union territories across India. The project was galvanised by the acute shortage of medical oxygen in India during the second wave of COVID-19 and was supported by a grant of Rs 109 crore from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.

These plants strengthen the oxygen generation capacity of healthcare facilities in high-need and rural geographies to better serve the needs of thousands of patients, helping with medical surgeries and the treatment of a range of respiratory conditions. Especially for health facilities in hard-to-reach areas - such as Kargil in Kashmir or the Sunderbans in West Bengal - this sustainable source of onsite oxygen generation empowers them to be self-sufficient and support a wider array of medical services that were once difficult due to a dependence on oxygen cylinders.

As part of the project, Give and PATH have also enabled the training of approximately 3000 medical professionals, and the sensitisation of over 7000 stakeholders across government, nonprofits, and industry, in the appropriate and judicious use of the PSA oxygen plants.

Announcing project completion, Atul Satija, CEO, Give, said, “These plants have provided hospitals the capacity to serve patients across over 20 states and union territories.”

Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & Vice President, Google India, remarked, “As we emerge from the shadows of the pandemic, we’re very pleased that the Google.org grant has helped Give and PATH expand the self-sufficiency, equity, and sustainability of oxygen access in high-need healthcare facilities.”

Neeraj Jain, Country Director India & Director South Asia, PATH added, “With the help of Google.org, we helped more than 20 states and union territories scale up their oxygen generation capacity to ensure that everyone in need has access to oxygen therapy now and in the future, strengthening every step of their oxygen delivery process—from planning to delivery. This included assessing demand against the healthcare facility’s requirements, identifying gaps, procuring, and commissioning PSA plants, and developing roadmaps for strengthening oxygen systems, training healthcare workers, and building capacity for long-term sustainability.”

Sharing the sentiment of hospitals that benefited from the plants, Rethu Krishna of Nazareth Hospital, Meghalaya, said, “Our health facility was just not prepared to handle the burdens that accompanied the pandemic. With the availability of the PSA plant, the difficulties and financial cost of procuring medical oxygen for our facility has greatly reduced.”