By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May. 6: The Ministry of Health and Population has warned that those stocking oxygen cylinders unnecessarily would be punished severely.

Addressing the complaints regarding unnecessarily storing cylinders amid the shortage of cylinders at the hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the Health Ministry informed that inspection would be done to punish those involved in stacking the cylinders to sell in the black market.

Issuing a press statement on Thursday, the ministry said, "It has been found that many industries are still using the oxygen cylinders by going against the government's decision."

Stating that many cylinders both empty and full were found to be stored needlessly, Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, assistant spokesperson at the MoHP said that the ministry had already issued a letter to industrialists and other concerned stakeholders to immediately provide the cylinders to COVID-19 hospitals.  

The ministry has further informed that those who are found violating the government's decision would be punished strictly as per the Infectious Disease Act, 2020.

Meanwhile, Dr. Adhikari said, "The COVID-19 patients were facing a lot of difficulties due to the shortage of oxygen supply."

The government has also decided to procure 50,000 oxygen cylinders from abroad and as per the decision, the procedure to import 20,000 from China has already begun.