Many of Jamaica’s hospitals now boast enhanced supplies of medical oxygen thanks to an upscaling of their systems by IGL Limited, Jamaica’s sole producer of the product, as part of its continuing effort to support the response of the Ministry of Health and Wellness to the increased cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Peter Graham, Managing Director of IGL Limited, said that his company is spearheading a shift away from cylinders to bulk supplies at the hospitals, where possible and expanding on-site storage. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented demand worldwide for medical oxygen. We cannot reiterate enough the importance and benefit to the country of IGL having and operating a plant locally as countries continue to limit the amount of medical oxygen exported given their own local demand,” he said.

“The plant continues to produce at full capacity and over the last month, IGL has invested tens of millions to provide increased bulk medical oxygen storage facilities and multiplied cylinder stocks at the most affected hospitals. Yesterday, another shipment of cylinders arrived to further boost inventory in hospitals that rely heavily on the use of cylinders. Relationships have been established with several overseas partners to be better able to respond to possible future spikes in demand and offset supply chain disruptions,” Graham added.

“The investment made by IGL complements the initiatives being taken by the government (inclusive of the development of field hospitals) and will help to improve health systems and health outcomes even beyond the pandemic,” he explained.  

Graham reported that in response to burgeoning needs, bulk medical oxygen storage at the National Chest Hospital has been expanded by approximately 100 per cent while a liquid medical oxygen tank has been installed at the Falmouth Hospital to provide storage for up to four weeks usage at the facility.

At the Savanna-La-Mar Hospital, their piped system was modified to reduce reliance on cylinders, the Percy Junor Hospital has been upgraded to accommodate two weeks supply while bulk storage is also being commissioned for the Annotto Bay Hospital to provide up to three weeks of storage.

Noting Jamaica’s vastly improved state of medical oxygen when compared to a month ago, Graham reinforced, “It’s a fluid situation with uncertainties around the rate and scale of infection but IGL, is fully committed to doing our part to ensure adequate supplies of medical oxygen for Jamaica.  We continue to urge everyone to be in full compliance and maintain the health and safety protocols.”