20 COVID Patients Die In Delhi's Jaipur Golden Hospital Due To Low Oxygen Pressure Amid Crisis
20 Covid patients died on Friday night at Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi due to low pressure of oxygen, as it was struggling with an acute shortage, like other hospitals in the national capital.
According to the hospital, "A supply of 3.5 metric tonnes of oxygen was supposed to reach by 5 p.m. yesterday. But it reached around midnight. By then, 20 patients had died."
The medical director of the hospital said on Saturday that the government had allotted them 3.5 metric tonne of oxygen, which was to be re-filled on Friday. However, that did not happen.
"Yesterday night, merely 1500 litres of oxygen was provided, because of which we were left with no oxygen as it was insufficient and 20 people died," Baluja said.
Not the first incident
This is the second such incident being reported from Delhi in as many days. On Friday, it was reported that around 25 Covid-19 patients had died in the period of 24 hours in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH). It had raised an alarm for the immediate need of oxygen supply on Thursday evening as over 140 critical patients admitted in the hospitals were on ventilators and on oxygen support.
Over the past few days, several hospitals in Delhi have been making appeals to the authorities in social media, calling for urgent replenishment of their medical oxygen supply.
Moolchand Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), Batra Hospital and Jaipur Golden hospital reported shortage of oxygen and appealed to the authority to arrange it at the earliest.
At 7.05 am, Moolchand Hospital tweeted about shortage of oxygen. "Urgent sos help. We have less than 2 hours of oxygen supply at Moolchand Hospital. We are desperate and have tried all the nodal officer numbers but unable to connect. Have over 135 Covid patients with many on life support," Moolchand hospital tweeted tagging Prime Minister Office, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Office, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
At 9.20 a.m., SGRH said that only 500 cubic meter of oxygen is left with the hospital which will last for about 30 odd minutes. Batra Hospital also reported a shortage of oxygen. Its Medical Director Dr SCL Gupta said that the hospital is left with oxygen for one hour with 350 patients. He appealed to the authority to ensure urgent supply of oxygen. Later, DCP South District Atul Bhatia said that an oxygen tanker had been arranged for Batra hospital.
"We have received only 500-litre of oxygen after pleading for nearly 12 hours, which is also less than our daily requirement of 8,000 liters. We have 350 patients and it is difficult to treat them in absence of inadequate supply," Gupta told IANS.
Around 9.30 a.m., MD Jaipur Golden Hospital, Dr D.K. Baluja tweeted, "Jaipur Golden Hospital is still waiting for oxygen. 215 COVID patients are dependent on the hospital, get supply ASAP. Please help, we are desperate."
