PATIENTS GASP FOR BREATH DUE TO O2 SHORTAGE
Nearly 200 patients undergoing treatment in 46 private hospitals that were allowed by the government are facing problems due to erratic supply of oxygen.
As per the details, there are two oxygen cylinder suppliers in Khammam and used to supply oxygen to the industries and private hospitals. The supply of oxygen is not at all a problem in Khammam before
Covid-19 situation and a 40 litre cylinder will be available at `330.
Now oxygen is scarce product now in Khammam. The private hospitals, at present, require an oil tanker capacity of eight tons per three days. But, the two oxygen suppliers are getting a tanker per a week. The oxygen used to be supplied to Khammam from Vizag and Odisha.
The government has given permission for Covid-19 treatment to the 46 private hospitals in Khammam and these hospitals are extending treatment to nearly 350 patients. Many of the patients are coming to the hospitals in serious condition and oxygen back up is must to them. A serious patient inhales and exhales about seven to eight liters of air while resting in a minute. This is about 11,000 liters per day. K. Pradeep of a private hospital said that each Covid19 patient is different from the rest. Among those who need oxygen supplement, some may require one or two liters of oxygen per minute. It is based on factoring in wastage in oxygen supply and utilization capacity of the lungs at the moment. This requirement may translate into three to four liters of medical oxygen per minute.
The collector divided the
Covid-19 hospitals as two groups and asked the two oxygen suppliers to distribute it to the hospitals as per the supply. The two suppliers are unable to get oxygen as per the demand. There are allegations from the hospitals that the suppliers are asking to pay Rs
1500 per 40 liter cylinder sometimes by saying the non-availability of it. Getting required oxygen from Vizag and Odisha at this juncture is a big task now. M F Gopinath, a doctor said that the government should solve the issue by getting more oxygen to the state. The patients will be in troubles with the situation.