Industrial Gases Limited (IGL) appears to have backpedalled on the claim that it wasn’t given a proper forecast on medical oxygen needs by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW).
In a statement on Thursday (September 2) the gas company agreed with the MOHW that the shortages of medical oxygen at several of the country’s hospitals were due to disruption in its supply chain.
IGL confirmed the disruption in the supply chain this past weekend (August 29) was due to increased demand in source markets and the declaration of force majeure by a company that has a long-standing supply arrangement with IGL.
IGL says it continues to work collaboratively with the MOH to ensure that Jamaica is supplied with the crucial commodity for its public health facilities especially for those hospitalised as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The partnership includes the sourcing and delivery of medical oxygen to Jamaica from a wide variety of sources including supplies from the company’s local oxygen-producing plant.
The statement comes after Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton rubbished the claim made by the company on Wednesday (August 1).
Tufton says that communication was made to IGL with projections forecasting the likely demand of medical oxygen as early as May in the event of a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
Jamaica on Thursday (August 2) received another shipment of the medicine.
IGL has raised concerns about the ever-growing demand for the commodity as COVID-19 continues to spread in the country.
The gas provider remains the country’s sole provider of medical oxygen.
