DOH urges suppliers to regulate sale of oxygen tanks

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker (R) puts a pulse oximeter on a woman’s finger to check her oxygen level during a door-to-door survey for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). REUTERS/Amit Dave

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday advised suppliers to regulate the sale of oxygen tanks to prevent a shortage in hospitals.

In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH understands the public’s move to store oxygen tanks in their households even if they don’t need it yet but warned that its improper use can cause more harm than good.

She noted that there is an appropriate level of oxygen that should be given to a patient depending on his or her condition.

“For example, you are not sick and you do not have any respiratory difficulty in breathing and all, baka makasama pa ito sa inyo kaysa makakabuti kasi (it might cause you harm because) too much oxygen that we take when we are at that normal or stable condition might also affect our breathing process,” she said.

“We encourage at nakikiusap kami sa ating mga suppliers na sana rin itong pagbebenta natin at pagpapahiram ng oxygen tanks natin ay maregulate natin na talagang ang kumukuha sa inyo ay hospital facilities muna natin,” she said.

(We appeal to our suppliers to regulate the selling and lending of oxygen tanks so that only health facilities can have them for now.)

She said the public can contact their respective local government units and doctors about their need for oxygen tanks.

“If they advise you na kailangan ng (that you need) oxygen, that’s the time that you get oxygen,” she added.

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