Oxygen therapy is required for seriously-ill COVID-19 patients. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade has urged oxygen suppliers to prioritise medical facilities in the southwestern region and HCM City as many are struggling with supplies.

According to preliminary statistics, southern provinces need about 400 tonnes of oxygen per day on average with HCM City needing more than 100 tonnes and other provinces about 50 tonnes each.

Nguyễn Văn Thanh, director of the ministry’s Department of Chemicals called on enterprises to arrange about 500 tonnes of oxygen daily for medical purposes.

The ministry is also working with ministries of transport, public security and sciences and technology to ensure smooth transportation of the oxygen.

Thanh said that oxygen transportation between regions was only one of the temporary solutions to tackle the shortage and ensure patients can get quick access to oxygen when needed.

In the long term, the Ministry of Industry and Trade would closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health and localities to better grasp the demand and carry out measures to ensure supply for medical facilities, he said.

The ministry would direct and support production units to soon put oxygen supplying projects into operation, develop a plan to promote the maximum production of medical oxygen as well as develop suitable oxygen transportation plans from localities to neighbouring ones, he said.

Under normal conditions, oxygen is mainly produced to serve industrial purposes. Currently, many facilities, factories, and filling stations are mainly located close to oxygen-producing plants, so the oxygen is supplied directly by pipelines to industrial plants.

Before November 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, when industrial production was temporarily halted, the demand for oxygen for the industry is low, production and supply facilities can ensure the amount of oxygen supplied to medical facilities.

However, when economic activities resumed, oxygen demand for production and business orders also increases. Meanwhile, the pandemic is still developing complicatedly, the demand for oxygen for treatment also increases rapidly and suddenly, which causes difficulty for the units that produce, supply and use oxygen. — VNS