Oxygen from oxygen plants in Yangon Region will no longer be sold to individuals, but will be distributed by the relevant township oxygen supply committees.

The announcement was made in front of oxygen plants in Yangon Region.

Oxygen produced from the plant is being supplied for the patients in hospitals and districts by the respective township oxygen supply committees which are formed with the township elders and charitable organizations. If someone needs oxygen, they can contact the township oxygen supply committee through the ward administration in your area, it said.

“We can sell to the charitable organizations but not for individually,” said a person from the oxygen plant in the region.

In recent days, a letter from the township oxygen distribution support groups has been circulating online.

The letter outlines the documents to be taken to fill up oxygen.

They need a letter of recommendation from the relevant ward administrator, the patient’s NRC or household list, medical certificate, a photo which contained to measure oxygen using an oximeter. If the need is high, it needs the review of health department. According to the letter, it is a first-come, first-served system.

In the third wave of COVID-19, the need for oxygen is increasing and charitable organizations need more oxygen to supply. According to some charities, the number of people seeking oxygen and the amount of oxygen they receive are insufficient.

“Oxygen demand is not low and it is not possible to give all the people who ask for help. We don’t have enough supply of oxygen,” said an official from a charity in Yangon that donates free oxygen.

In addition, the price of oxygen cylinders in the oxygen market has skyrocketed to at least 600,000 kyats per 10-liter oxygen cylinder.

"Prices are skyrocketing. You need to buy it when you need it. It is a time of bargaining,” said a person who had to pay 600,000 kyats for a 10-liter oxygen tank.