Centre dodgy on oxygen deprivation deaths

oxygen shortage Image Courtesy:hindustantimes.com

Today, on August 10, the Health Ministry has accepted in their written response to Rajya Sabha, that some patients on ventilator support at Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia (SVRR) hospital had died due to a drop in the pressure in the oxygen lines.

Rajya Sabha member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar asked the Ministry of Health whether the Government had made any inquiry into the instances of death in the state of Andhra Pradesh due to inadequate oxygen supply in hospitals particularly in Ruia Hospital, Tirupati.

To this, Minister of State Bharati Pravin Pawar’s answer read, “As per State Government of Andhra Pradesh’s communication dated 9th August 2021, on 10th May 2021, at Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia (SVRR) hospital, some patients who were on ventilator support died while undergoing treatment for Covid-19. As per the preliminary inquiry incident report, it appears that the interval between the levelling out of 10KL oxygen tank and the switching on of the backup manifold system of this hospital resulted in the drop in pressure in the oxygen lines. The drop in the pressure in the oxygen lines led to insufficient oxygen being available for the patients mainly on ventilator support.”

As per media reports, around 23 patients were reported to have died on May 10 due to inadequate oxygen at SVRR hospital, but the government in its response has refused to mention the exact number of deceased patients.

During the monsoon session on July 20, the Centre had informed the Parliament that the State Governments and Union Territories did not specifically report any deaths due to lack of oxygen and lack of hospital facilities during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. This answer was met with widespread condemnation all across the country, accusing the government of providing false information and lacking empathy.

According to a report in The News Minute, on July 23, just three days after Centre’s response, the Superintendent of the SVRR Government General Hospital filed a complaint at the Alipiri Police Station in Tirupati against an oxygen supplier for its alleged role in the death of 23 people due to lack of oxygen. The complaint was filed against Shree Bharath Pharma and Medical Oxygen Distributors, Kurnool, which was responsible for supplying and distributing liquid medical oxygen to the hospital.

During the second wave, many hospitals sent out SOS messages online about inadequate oxygen and some major hospitals like Max, Batra had also moved the Delhi High Court in the National Capital citing inadequate supply of oxygen to treat Covid-19 patients. Bharati Pawar’s written response also admits that the demand for oxygen had risen amid the second wave. “The daily liquid medical oxygen (LMO) supply, which was about 1292 MTs per day in February 2021 increased to 8593 MTs in April 2021”, read the reply.

The answer may be read here: