The text of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 08.04.2021 № 337 “Some issues of expanding access to oxygen therapy for the treatment of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2” was published, which allows the use of oxygen for the period of quarantine the quality (specification) of which according to the main indicators meets the requirements for medical oxygen to ensure the expansion of access to oxygen therapy for patients with COVID-19.
Also, for the specified period, only licensees engaged in economic activities for the production of medical gases and wholesale trade in them are allowed to deliver technical oxygen to health care facilities. The main indicators of the specification and methods of technical oxygen control must correspond to the main indicators of medical oxygen, in particular, the volume fraction of oxygen must be at least 99.5%, as evidenced by the relevant certificate (protocol) of analysis issued by an accredited quality control laboratory.
In addition, such licensees are required to inform the State Service of Ukraine for Medicines and Drug Control on a monthly basis about the recipients (health care facilities), the amount, and quality of oxygen delivered.
The adoption of this resolution was also commented by the Minister of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov, who noted that this decision of the Government is dictated by the increase in hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19, and in the regions of Ukraine, there may be problems with oxygen beds. He also said that the licensees’ obligation to report monthly on deliveries will ensure proper quality control of technical oxygen.