Supreme Court has set up a 12- member National Task Force (NTF) on Saturday to streamline oxygen allocation to states across the country, a move that came in the midst of the second wave of the coronavirus disease that has stressed the health care sector and sent the demand for medical oxygen among Covid19 patients soaring.
Several states have complained of a crippling shortage of medical oxygen with reports of deaths due to its non-availability coming in from several parts.
“In order to ensure that the allocation and distribution of oxygen takes place on a rational and equitable basis, it is necessary to constitute a national task force of experts which would determine the method of allocation and distribution of oxygen across States/ UTs,” the apex court said in its order, adding, “Smaller expert committees or subgroups may look into issues of auditing the manner in which supplies are to be distributed and utilised in each State/UT.”