PANJIM: Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that GMC will require 10,000 liters oxygen if the hospital run to its full capacity. He further informed that to tide over the crisis and to be self-sufficient, the GMC has now ordered 10 oxygen manufacturing units, which will supply 36 cylinders on a daily basis.
Following reports of deaths due to shortage of oxygen supply, relatives of patients and volunteers of NGOs and political parties’ helpline assistance are seen carrying portable cylinders during medical emergencies in the hospital.
Dr Bandekar cautioned NGOs and other carrying oxygen cylinders in COVID care centers to take all safety measures and not to risk the lives of other patients.
“Today oxygen has become an integral part of treatment of COVID-19 patients. But these oxygen cylinders have to be kept away from flammable objects. In case of any mishap it can risk the lives of other patients undergoing treatment in the ward,” he said.
Many hospitals are running out of medical oxygen as there is a steady rise in COVID cases, even though State government has taken all measures to ensure supply of oxygen to ill patients.
According to Dr Bandekar, nobody could have envisaged the need for oxygen supply in a large quantity in view of COVID-19 infection. It was about 10 years ago the then GMC Dean finalised and awarded the tender for supply of medical oxygen to the GMC.
