chandigarh the ministry of health and family welfare has finally issued guidelines for rational use of oxygen for the management of covid19 on sunday leading the ut health department to hold a meeting to chalk out plans on mondaysince the supply of oxygen is being constantly monitored in hospitals of the city sources said steps will soon be taken according to guidelines for the rational use of oxygen supply and its managementon the responsibility of the hospital administrators the ministry said a team of one nurse and one ot operation theatre technician may be designated as oxygen monitoring team for each shift at each hospital the team will visit all areas where oxygen supplytherapy is instituted these teams will inspect the gas pipeline wall mounted gas outlets as well as gas cylinders to detect and promptly address leakages if any nurse in the team will check the oxygen mask on a regular basis ensure closure of valves during nouse at all times sensitise nurses and technicians for conservation of oxygen the ministry saidit further said at the facility level an oxygen audit committee may be formed in every hospital which may consist of additional medical superintendent head of anesthesia head of respiratory medicine head of internal medicine in case respiratory medicine department does not exist and nursing superintendent it further said the committee will be mandated to supervise inventory planning oxygen consumption pattern regular repair and maintenance of gas pipelines gas plant and wall mounted gas outletsthe ministry has also asked hospitals to reduce all elective and emergency services to a minimum in view of the pandemic regular training of ot technicians and nurse should be undertaken on proper oxygen administration and monitoring and on conserving oxygenthe ministry has advised district magistrate dm assisted by the chief medical officer cmo should be asked that they must also monitor the consumption including the rational use of oxygen in all facilities on a weekly basis