KATHMANDU, MAY 6

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Ministry of Energy, Water Supply, and Irrigation to ensure adequate power supply to oxygen plants where irregular power supply was adversely affecting oxygen production.

Minister of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe told THT that the PM issued the directive as oxygen cylinder producers were complaining of irregular supply of electricity in their plants.

The PM's directive comes at a time when people are blaming the government for failing to address the problem of oxygen shortage in hospitals across Nepal. There have been reports that COVID patients are not getting adequate oxygen therapy in hospitals due to lack of oxygen cylinders.

According to a Cabinet member, the prime minister also directed his Cabinet members, particularly the health minister to ensure supply of COVID vaccines without any further delay. Oli told his Cabinet colleagues the government should initiate the process of importing vaccines from India, Russia, and China.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 7, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.