"We are running against time and we need to be quick." Luhut stated in a press release.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Maritime & Investment Affairs Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan called on stakeholders to step up the supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients.

Pandjaitan laid emphasis on this urgency at a virtual coordination meeting for oxygen supply held on Thursday, with attendees comprising several ministers and related stakeholders.

"We are running against time, and we need to be quick (to speed up the supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients)," the minister said in a press release.

At the meeting, he drew attention to the recent condition of COVID-19 cases and estimated the oxygen requirements during the emergency restrictions of people's activities (PPKM) in Java and Bali on July 3-20, 2021.

The minister spoke of having planned a scenario to handle the rising number of COVID-19 cases during this emergency measures. To this end, an evaluation will be conducted for the applied regulation to gauge how the regulation works.

"This is since we have no idea when this disease will be over," the minister stated.


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Nevertheless, the minister affirmed that all stakeholders related to the supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients must abide by the laws to avoid further difficulties in future.

The meeting’s attendees, comprising the industry minister, the minister and vice minister of state-owned enterprises, the vice minister of health, a representative from the Ministry of Finance, and a representative of the State Audit Board, concurred on supporting the oxygen procurement process to address the lack in oxygen supplies in Indonesia, most importantly for COVID-19 patients.

These stakeholders echoed their support and cooperative stance to aid in accelerating the procurement of oxygen supplies to lower the curve of COVID-19 cases.

In the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia since the end of June, the requirement for oxygen supplies also rose at hospitals and for patients undergoing home treatment. The government had additionally instructed all oxygen manufacturing facilities to fully switch to producing medical grade oxygen.
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Translator: Ade Irma, Resinta Sulistiyanda
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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