KATHMANDU: A mini-oxygen plant has been installed at Raskot Hospital located at Raskot Municipality in Kalikot district.

The National Innovation Center (NIC) installed the mini-oxygen plant free of cost to facilitate the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Ritesh Dev of NIC said the centre has been manufacturing health equipment and distributing them in order to protect the citizens of remote and mountainous districts from COVID-19 pandemic. “Sixty liters of oxygen is produced per minute from the mini-oxygen plant and oxygen cylinders have been installed at 10 beds,” added Dev. The NIC has given special importance to the rural areas.

Chief of the hospital, Dr Bhojraj Bam, said with the installation of oxygen plant, serious types of disease could be treated there as the hospital was forced to refer corona virus patients to other hospitals for want of medical oxygen.

NIC Chairperson Mahabir Pun shared they have started manufacturing 11 types of health equipment in order to prevent and control COVID-19 infection and were distributing them free of cost to health institutions in remote areas of western and eastern districts of the country.