Medical gas units likely to shut down

Manufacturers of medical gases - oxygen and nitrous oxide - have appealed the government to relax conditions prescribed in the revised Drug and Cosmetic Rules, to be implemented next year, as it could force a large number of units to close down.

The revised law, which comes into effect from January 1 2005, bars a manufacturing unit from producing drug and non-drug items in the same premises.

Since majority of manufacturers come in the above mentioned category, the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers' Association has asked the government to provide relief as this may force most of the medical oxygen and nitrous oxide manufacturing units to close down affecting gases' supply for medical purposes.

All oxygen manufacturing units in India use only one to two per cent of the produce to supply for the medical use, while the rest is catered to the industry, the Association said and asked the government to provide relief to the medical gas manufacturers from this revised condition.

"None of the oxygen-producing units will be able to meet the requirement of the rules. Many nitrous oxide plants may also have similar problem and may be forced to close down," it said.

Hinderance in the supply of medical gases would bring all major surgeries, including cardiovascular operations to a standstill, it said.