Jamaica seeking medical oxygen from Trinidad and Tobago

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government is working out arrangements for Trinidad and Tobago to supply Jamaica with oxygen.

 

The health authorities and the sole supplier of oxygen in Jamaica, IGL, were left scrambling last weekend as demand for the gas surged and supplies ran low.

 

Mr. Holness says more sustainable solutions to the oxygen problem are being sought. 

 

"We have reached out to the Government of Trinidad to have a firm relationship with them to becoming suppliers for us, given that we have this situation in our normal course. So from a government to government perspective, we are tying that down," Mr. Holness announced at a media briefing on Wednesday. 

 

The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Health is moving to increase the number of oxygen concentrators in the public health system.

 

He disclosed that about 80 have already been secured from members of the diaspora.

 

However, he said there are challenges to solving the issue of local oxygen production.

 

"The long-term is, how do we size the plant that we have to meet the demands going forward? And I think the suppliers want to have a better understanding of what will our supplies be, let's say, in the next year. Would it justify an investment in increasing the size of their plant? And then from our point, we need to find other sources. Now I want us to be clear, it doesn't really matter which source you find, once they need their oxygen then you are at peril," he reasoned.