SON alerts on under-dispensing of medical gases

By Abba – Eku Onyeka Abuja

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued an alert to the public on recent complaints received on under-dispensing of oxygen and other medical gases by plant owners in some parts of the country, according to a statement from the office of the Director General (DG), Mallam Farouk Salim yesterday.

Describing oxygen as a critical product in the treatment of respiratory ailments in emergency situations, particularly in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed that its use by certified medical personnel was strictly in recommended volumes and dosages for effectiveness in treatment.

According to the DG, the inadequacy in volume and dosage of oxygen and other medical gases has been reported to have consequences on the treatment of patients in the country resulting to loss of lives in some cases,  just as he warned gas plants across the country to ensure accurate volume in the sale of oxygen and other medical gases to Customers as a matter of responsibility.

Mallam Salim admonished health institutions and practitioners to carefully and regularly check the pressure of Oxygen and other medical gas cylinders for strict compliance with labelled specifications,  just as he disclosed that SON offices across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been directed to ensure close monitoring and strict compliance with standards of volume in the sale of oxygen and other medical gases to Customers by Gas Plants.

He however warned that any gas plant or dealer found to be under-dispensing oxygen or other medical gases would be made to face the full weight of the law as enshrined in the SON Act No. 14 of 2015.