Panel to audit ventilators in Rajasthan: State tells HC

JODHPUR: In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the medical and health department has directed hospitals in the state to give details of the ventilators available with them. The department has constituted a high-level committee, which is in the process of preparing a plan for judicious use of the ventilators available in the state.

The state government submitted the information in an affidavit in the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday, which had directed the government to file its reply on a PIL, which drew the court’s attention towards some faulty ventilators in a Sirohi hospital.

The state government said the ventilators which are not being utilised for various reasons in some districts will be allotted to other district hospitals and medical colleges.

The defective ventilators will be repaired within a very short period, the state goverment stated.

The state government said that the state received a number of ventilators from the centre. As per the arrangement the ventilators were to be made operational and maintained by the agencies appointed by the central government.

“Unfortunately, the ventilators so provided by the central government have majorly turned out to be defective… As such the usage of these ventilators has become lethal and impossible and the treating doctors are reluctant to use such ventilators as it poses risk to the patients being treated,” stated the affidavit, signed by the health secretary.

“The state government has written a letter to the central government to address all the issues…a request has also been made to ensure constant supply of consumables and spare parts,” the state government stated.