Amid reports of shortage of medical oxygen in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said that each private hospital in the state with more than 50 beds should set up an oxygen generation plant to ensure availability of this life-saving gas for treatment of patients. He said this in a press conference, where he shared a fresh set of instructions for hospitals.

"All private hospitals with more than 50 beds should set up an oxygen generation plant. These hospitals will no longer rely on the state government for the supply of medical oxygen, which can be provided to the COVID-19 patients," he said. Hospitals with less than 50 beds have been asked to procure oxygen concentrators, which can increase the supply of oxygen to patients, the minister said.