Oxygen SOS: 25 critical patients die at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi

Image: PTI

Twenty five most ill patients have died at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The leading hospital has also sounded an ‘Oxygen SOS’. According to a report by NDTV, the Ganga Ram hospital issued a statement on Thursday morning and said it had oxygen for only two more hours and that 60 more patients are at risk, and around two hours later, oxygen tankers arrived at the hospital. However, 25 of the “sickest patients” have died in the hospital in the last 24 hours stated reports on Friday. According to the hospital’s statement its “Ventilators and BiPAP (ventilators for invasive treatment) not working effectively. Resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and Emergency. Major crisis likely. Lives of another 60 sickest patients at risk, need urgent intervention.”

According to NDTV’s report the hospital’s chairman said this was a large number of deaths in 24 hours for the first time, but he did not link them to oxygen shortage. However, the Indian Express reported that Ganga Ram Hospital sources confirmed that, “All the patients were critical and on high flow oxygen support.” The hospital reportedly has over 700 Covid-19 patients admitted. The hospital, one of the biggest private ones in the national capital, said on Thursday morning that it was running dangerously low on oxygen and had only about an hour’s supply left. The hospital had received oxygen supply late on Wednesday night, reported IE, adding that even after that the hospital had said the oxygen would last for “a couple of hours”. It quoted Dr D S Rana, Chairman of Board, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital as saying, “The trucks from INOX are on their way and we are waiting for them to arrive. All we need is uninterrupted and timely supply of oxygen.”

Meanwhile, at around 8 A.M on Friday, Max Healthcare, another large hospital chain also reached out to authorities on social media, saying it was running out of oxygen supply. “Less than an hour’s oxygen supplies at Max Smart Hospital & Max Hospital Saket. Awaiting promised fresh supplies from INOX since 1 am. Over 700 patients admitted, need immediate assistance,” the hospital tweeted.

The Delhi government sent in 2 MT of emergency oxygen supply, 1MT filling at Max Smart Hospital and 1 MT for Max Hospital, Saket. Between the two hospitals, Max stated that they have 700 patients, including 550 Covid patients. “Currently filling up at Max Smart, Hospital, our Covid only hospital,” it said in a fresh statement. Soon, Max Healthcare also announced that it was suspending new patient admissions at all its hospitals in the Delhi NCR till oxygen supplies stabilise. 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde issued a notice to the Centre and sought a “national plan” on issues including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for treatment of patients infected with Covid-19.

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