But CM says it’s for doctors to comment on how patients die

PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said it is for doctors to comment on the reasons a patient has died. He said this when asked to comment on Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s charges about a number of patients dying due to oxygen shortage in the middle of the night at GMC. 

Sawant added that even he, being the CM, cannot make such a comment as the doctors are the only experts in such situations as they are experts, have assessed the patients and can state why a patient has died. 

Against the backdrop of complaints over shortage in oxygen supply at Goa Medical College (GMC), Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inspected the arrangements in the COVID wards of the hospital and assured that the government ‘will make sure that no one dies due to oxygen shortage’.

“Visited COVID-19 wards in GMC today to inquire about the well being of the patients, our medical team and also to understand the shortcomings in the facilities. Our doctors and healthcare workers are doing their best on the frontline. Will be holding a meeting with the medical and administrative team to resolve all the issues and to ensure that everyone gets necessary facilities,” Sawant tweeted post the meeting.

After a meeting with the Dean of Goa Medical College (GMC) and Health Department officials, Sawant said the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been given for the oxygen management at GMC.

He added that the government will arrange 600 oxygen cylinders on a daily basis and how these cylinders are handled will be monitored 24/7. This is in addition to what is used for manifold pipeline oxygen supply and after they had determined the overall ward-wise oxygen requirements. He added that spare cylinders will always be kept for emergencies. 

Having identified how there is a delay between the time the cylinders reach Bambolim and the time it takes to reach the wards, Sawant said they found out that proper assigning of tasks and the time taken by the drivers are the issue. He said expert drivers are being hired now who will be able to handle the delivery of the cylinders, be it reversing of the tractors, other coordination as well reducing the time it takes to reach Bambolim from the plant to no more than 25 minutes.

Further multi-tasking staff has been given the responsibility of ensuring the cylinders reach the wards and that once a cylinder is over, a spare one is utilised immediately to avoid any drop in oxygen pressure. 

He added that the company Scoop Industries has been asked to provide additional labour for unloading and uploading the cylinders at GMC. Responding to a query he said the government has not taken a decision yet of taking over Scoop Industries as it does not have the expertise in the matter. 

Sawant further added that the 20,000-litre oxygen tank will be set up at GMC in 8-10 days time, which will provide continuous uninterrupted supply of oxygen. He said the oxygen tank at South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) will also help reduce patients there. 

Further to reduce the load, 200 more patients will be shifted to the super speciality block at GMC. 

He added just the way there are step-up hospitals, now there will be step down hospitals, where patients from GMC who longer require oxygen beds, will be sent to this step down hospital, likely at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, where the patients can stay for three days or so before they are discharged. He felt this will free up 100 more beds.

Sawant was again on a defensive mode about his government’s work and said there is no question of there being a shortage in oxygen supply, which he emphasised is there in abundance. He pinned the blame on the manner in which oxygen cylinders are being provided to the patients and how such delays cannot take place given that patients are dependent on the same. He then sought to hold housekeeping staff at the hospital responsible for this delay and said better attention to details in such situations is what is required. 

Asked by media persons as to how come there are still such problems at the hospital despite the umpteen visits to GMC by him and the Health Minister, he said this is the first time he visited the wards of the hospital and that at a meeting with the Health Department all the problems per ward and overall at GMC will be resolved and that the oxygen supply issues would be resolved. These include queries he received from patients why there is a shortage of oxygen at night at GMC and also about how there are, at times, fluctuations from the main supply line as well.

Elaborating on the plans for better management of the facilities, he said the issue is that there is no ward-wise in charge who can be dedicated to sort out administrative issues. In that regard, an in-charge officer will be appointed and the doctors will be able to focus only on medical treatment henceforth. 

He also acknowledged that the nursing staff is not adequate enough to handle the number of patients in each COVID ward but praised the nurses and doctors for going out of their way to help the patients.

Sawant, however, went on the offensive regarding Scoop Industries and said that the government will fix the responsibility on supply issues with the company, 

Pointing out that the company is being provided with all possible support from the government, Sawant said they cannot run from their responsibility during the pandemic. 

He criticised the company for not changing the old main oxygen pipeline system when it had a ten-year contract with GMC. On that note, he said the government will not tolerate any problems regarding oxygen supply. 

Sawant also touched upon how some private hospitals are not honouring DDSSY cards of patients. He said DDSSY payments are being cleared within 15 days and that a lot of assistance has been provided to private hospitals and thus they cannot act in such manner during a pandemic.

When asked if the government is ready for the third wave, Sawant said right now scientifically, they have not done anything about the third wave and that the State government is presently combating the second wave, which is its top most priority. He added that the GMC’s Preventive and Social (PSM) Department and the Health Department is constantly analysing the COVID situation.

When asked why Rane was not present for the meeting, Sawant said Rane had been invited for it.