PANJIM: Announcing that the newly-launched Super Specialty Block at Goa Medical College has been commissioned as a COVID hospital on Wednesday, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant carried out an inspection of the facilities along with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar and other officials.
“Once we shift the patients to the Super Specialty Block, the oxygen cylinder requirement will be reduced automatically. This facility has been equipped with an oxygen tank of 20,000 litres, 150 oxygen beds will be utilised initially for COVID-19 patients and the same shall be scaled up as per the requirement,” Sawant said.
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He also revealed that the 5000 litres capacity oxygen tank is now providing stable supply to the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) and that the 600 litres per minute PSA oxygen plant is expected to be commissioned by May 15.
Pointing out that over 200 oxygen concentrators have been donated by private companies and will be available, he said 74 have been handed over to GMC on Wednesday.
The CM announced that the State will be undertaking an oxygen audit following directions issued in this regard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct an audit of the entire oxygen related processes in the State.
The CM said that the PM had called him on Tuesday night as part of an assessment of the COVID management in the State and that he had sought details regarding how many patients had been hospitalised, how many beds are available etc. Sawant said the audit will cover details such as Goa’s present and future requirement of oxygen, amount generated and imported, patient-wise usage, measures for minimising leakage and misuse, additional sources which can be tapped, possibility of re-commissioning non-working plants etc.
He added that this was important as they have to ensure that the oxygen infrastructure has no problems for the next year or so.
Incidentally, Sawant had rushed to GMC late Tuesday night following appeals made on social media by alert citizens about the oxygen supply in ward 142 running out. Sawant said that he had ensured that the oxygen supply was restored and that 60 cylinders had reached the ward.
Sawant explained that the government is streamlining oxygen supply as the demand has increased.
He also spoke about how oxygen cylinders are used in 10 wards while in other COVID wards oxygen is supplied in a centralised manner.
“Three to four days back we could manage with 400 to 500 cylinders. Since yesterday, cylinder usage is going up to 1,000. We can manage around 1,200,” Sawant said.
On a related note, the CM appealed to COVID patients with co-morbidities to get admitted at Step Up Hospitals, which will be commissioned at eight places across Goa.
“Step Up Hospitals at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium at Bambolim, Chicalim and Cansaulim will be commissioned today (Wednesday) and those at Pernem, Bicholim, Valpoi, Canacona and Curchorem blocks which will be ready in a couple of days time,” Sawant added.
