Oxygen Plant in Palpa Resumes Operations After Two Years Shutdown

The oxygen plant in Palpa, which had been shut down for two years, has been repaired and brought back into operation. With the plant running again, supplying oxygen cylinders to Palpa Hospital and other district hospitals will become more convenient. In Jestha 2078 (May/June 2021), the federal government allocated a budget of NPR 15 million for purchasing equipment to operate the plant.

The plant was restarted through proper management of skilled personnel and maintenance work. Originally constructed at Palpa Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic with federal funding, the oxygen plant had fallen into disrepair over recent years. Locals have expressed happiness that the reopening of the plant will resolve oxygen shortages.

Previously, in the absence of a local oxygen plant, hospitals had to rely on supplies transported from Butwal and Bhairahawa. With the new oxygen plant operational in the district, it will now be easier for not only other hospitals but also all patients to access oxygen, said Pratiksha Gaha Sinjali, Deputy Mayor of Tansen Municipality. She also expressed confidence that the plant will facilitate the supply of oxygen cylinders not only to patients admitted at Palpa Hospital but also to Lumbini Medical College, Mission Hospital, Rampur Hospital, and private medical facilities and clinics in the district.

The district typically consumes between 400 to 500 oxygen cylinders monthly. According to Ajayman Karmacharya, Chairperson of the Palpa Hospital Development Committee, small cylinders are bought and sold at NPR 350 and large cylinders up to NPR 650 at the plant. Local production of oxygen will also reduce transportation costs and save time for district hospitals, he added.

Chairperson Karmacharya emphasized that the oxygen plant is vital to making Palpa Hospital well-equipped, reliable, and trustworthy. He stated, “Our main goal is to ensure that no patient loses their life prematurely due to lack of oxygen.” With the plant now operational, Dr. Rajendra Paudel, Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, shared that surgical services are planned to resume within the second week of Baishakh (late April/early May).

Under the federal Ministry of Finance, the budget of NPR 15 million was approved in Jestha 2078 for the operation of the oxygen plant. The funds were used to purchase equipment to produce oxygen, facilitating the plant’s reopening. A building adjacent to the hospital, costing NPR 2.6 million, was constructed for the plant. While the plant had been functional during the COVID-19 period, its closure afterward led to hardships for patients with chronic illnesses.