The Supreme Court on Thursday asked theCentre to spell out its plan to deal with a possible third wave of the Covid-19pandemic, even as it held that the Centre's formula to distribute oxygen tostate governments, particularly the national capital, was "a grossunderestimate".
A bench comprising Justices D.Y.Chandrachud and M.R. Shah said: "The third surge which is around thecorner, according to experts, will affect children. What is the problem inenhancing the supply? It will save from oxygen panic and create a buffer."
The top court told the Centre, whichclaimed though it supplied 730 MT oxygen on Wednesday, that this much oxygenwas not required in Delhi. However, it also emphasised the need for a speedyvaccination process and suggested forming a committee of experts for oxygenaudit as sought by the Union government.
Earlier, during the hearing, the topcourt observed that the Centre's oxygen formula requires complete revamp.
If preparations are made right away, wemay be able to tackle the third wave for which scientific planning to vaccinatepersons would be needed, it said.
Elaborating on the third wave, the topcourt observed that when a child goes to hospital, the mother and father willalso have to go. "That is why vaccination will have to be over for thisgroup of people. We need to plan for this in a scientific way and thus makearrangement," it said.
The Centre informed the top court thatoxygen supplies may dip to 560 MT in the next two days. But the top court saidthat supplying 700 MT daily will help Delhi build buffer stock and panic willnot be there among people.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,representing the Centre, submitted that the government must have a solutionthereby, to have a minimum fault-prone formula. "We are not saying thatformula is cast in stone. We will revisit the formula," he added.
Justice Chandrachud told Mehta thatimportant points were missed by the Centre's committee, which they, as judges,came across. "We need to deal with it. I'm not saying it's the Centre'sfault. I am saying that we need to deal with the third surge in a scientificallyplanned manner," he noted.
The bench added that if we preparetoday, we may be able to handle it, and it also urged the government to explorethe possibility of utilising services of doctors who have completed MBBS andwaiting to enrol for PG courses. Under these pressing times, their servicescould prove crucial for the third wave, it said.
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"Today we have 1.5 lakh doctors whohave finished the medical course but waiting for NEET exam. How do you tap them?1.5 lakh doctors and 2.5 lakh nurses are sitting at home."
The observations were made by the topcourt during the hearing of an appeal filed by the Centre challenging the showcause notice for contempt issued against its officers by the Delhi High Courtfor failing to provide 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi as per top court order.Yesterday, the top court had stayed the High Court order of contempt, notingthat contempt will not help salvage the oxygen situation.
The top court had asked the Centre tosubmit a tabulated plan to meet the 700 MT oxygen target by 10.30 am onThursday. The Centre submitted the plan to the top court. During the hearing,the top court noted that the Centre's formula needs to re-examined, as it onlytakes into account ICU beds and hospital admissions, but not those who needoxygen at home or requirements for ambulance etc.