Kriti Agrawal
The Supreme Court has established a 12-member National Task Force to determine the availability and distribution of medical oxygen across the country on a science, fair, and equitable basis.
The task force will also recommend steps to ensure the availability of covid-19 treatment medications.
The Supreme Court ordered the task force’s formation on Friday, when it called for a rethinking of the center’s allocation of oxygen to various states.
The Center had agreed and required an audit to be conducted at the time, but the Delhi government had objected.
According to sources, the two-Judge bench that issued the order Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah spoke with each member of the task force, which will begin work within a week.
The task force’s findings will be delivered to both the center and the Court.
Dr. Bhabatosh Biswas, former Vice Chancellor of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairperson and Managing Director of Gurgaon’s Medanta Hospital and Heart Institute, are among those who have joined the board.
Two members will be from the government, and the convenor will be a Cabinet Secretary.
During its hearings, the Supreme Court stated that the center failed to consider factors such as ambulances, lower-level Covid treatment services, and patients in home quarantine.
The Court also wanted to know whether the center was preparing for a potential third Covid wave, which might worsen the severe shortage of oxygen, drugs, and hospital beds.