‘Can manage delay in Remdesivir but not O2’

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has only 21 per cent beds available across the city. Of the 4,499 beds available, 3,568 have been occupied. Most of these include beds with oxygen and ICU beds that are occupied. There are many ventilators available in the city.

While the city is battling with the shortage of beds, doctors in Indian Medical Association (IMA) have requested a meeting with the Thane district collector to discuss how to handle the second wave more efficiently.

“Efforts are being made to ensure that there is enough supply of oxygen from outside the city; the second wave has come like a Tsunami and everyone is trying their best to handle the situation. For once, we can manage the patients if there is a delay in getting Remdesivir by a day or two but not for shortage of oxygen. There is quite a lot of pressure currently on the medical fraternity as well and while everyone is back on their feet, working day in and day out, proper supply of oxygen will be a boon for both the patients and the health workers,” said Dr Santosh Kadam, president, IMA.

Meanwhile, the Thane district collector has ensured that no private hospitals or civic bodies can directly apply for oxygen. They have to do this with the help of the FDA, they will decide the smooth distribution of oxygen based on the demand from those across the district. The logistics of the number of patients and the number of patients admitted in beds with oxygen supply needs to be updated on a regular basis to ensure proper supply of oxygen facilities.

Rajesh Narvekar, collector, Thane district, said, “Procurement of the oxygen happens in Thane and Raigad areas, we have to distribute it across the district. This is the state government’s prerogative to distribute it across the state as per the demand. There is a huge demand across the district, we are trying to conform to the demand based on the number of patients admitted across the district. Currently, the only way out is the rational distribution based on the demand from patients. We are arranging for a meeting with the IMA how to go about.”

PRAFUL GANGURDE / HT PHOTO A hospital staff arranges oxygen cylinders at the Thane Civil Hospital on Thursday.