Taking cognisance of the role of medical oxygen as a life-saving public health commodity and the need for capacity building of healthcare workers in handling of medical oxygen, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has inaugurated the National Oxygen Stewardship Programme of the Union Health Ministry, at AIIMS, New Delhi.

The initiative aims to empower all healthcare workers engaged in oxygen management and administration with the essential knowledge and skills to ensure rational utilization and avoid any wastage of medical oxygen, especially in resource constraint settings.

It envisages to identify and train at least one “Oxygen Steward” in each district across the country. These trained professionals would be responsible for leading the training on oxygen therapy and management in their respective districts and also support audit of oxygen delivery and preparedness for a surge scenario.

"This will train our participants to avoid wastage or overuse of oxygen in resource constraint settings including issues faced during oxygen crisis, learnings, and averting further crisis situations", the Miniter stated.