SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: What doctors and COVID-19 patients and their relatives have been saying all through and was denied by the government, was on Tuesday admitted by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane who said that interrupted supply of medical oxygen has led to the death of several COVID-19 critical patients in Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC).
Stating that at least 26 coronavirus patients on ventilator support died on Tuesday early morning in GMC, the Minister, however, remained evasive about cause.
For the first time, Rane admitted before the media that several patients have lost their lives due to interrupted oxygen supply. He also said that the administration has failed to fill up the gap between the demand and supply of the oxygen.
In another first, the Health Minister has urged the High Court of Bombay at Goa that is hearing a series of petitions with regard to COVID-19 management, to appoint an inquiry committee to investigate the exact cause of deaths that occur between 2 am and 6 am, on a daily basis. He also said that the judiciary investigate the oxygen management and release a white paper for information of the people.
“There is unprecedented rise in oxygen demand. There are many deaths taking place due to interrupted oxygen supply. Even today 26 COVID-19 patients died between 2 am and 6 am. We don’t know the reason. Doctors and nurses are seen crying helpless,” he said.
Admitting that there is shortage of oxygen supply, Rane said that on Monday, Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) was in need of 1200 oxygen cylinders, however, only 400 were received.
The statement comes following Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s visit to COVID wards in GMC. The Chief Minister had said that the gap between the “availability of medical oxygen and its supply to COVID-19 wards in the GMC might have caused some issues for the patients” while reiterating that there is no scarcity of oxygen supply in the State.
“The High Court should investigate the reasons behind these deaths. The HC should also intervene and prepare a white paper on oxygen supply to the GMC, which would help to set the things right,” Rane said.
“If there is a shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen, the discussion should be held about how to bridge that gap. We are unable to fill up the shortfall. The focus needs to be on that,” he said.
Rane said the government is trying to rationalise the oxygen supply and save lives of the people. He also stressed on the need to increase the oxygen capacity of the State.
Rane said a three-member team of nodal officers set up by the State government to oversee COVID-19 treatment at GMC should give its inputs about the issues to the CM. He said the CM has been misguided by “someone” alleging COVID mismanagement.
“If there is mismanagement in handling COVID situation, then the nodal officers should inform us where and how to set the things correct,” he said.
