COVID Patients Are Dying Due To Lack Of Oxygen At Hospitals Almost Everyday, When Will This Stop?

India, in the grip of a devastating second wave, is the second-worst affected country due to the pandemic. Hospitals in the country continue to send distress messages for emergency oxygen supply amid acute shortage of the life-saving gas.

With a surging COVID caseload, the country's healthcare infrastructure has faltered, leaving COVID patients gasping for breath, and their families scrambling for oxygen cylinders on social media.

This week alone, two major incidents of oxygen shortage have been reported, where dozens of COVID patients have died.

26 COVID-19 Patients Die Of Oxygen Shortage In Goa

At least 26 COVID-19 patients died at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in the early hours of Tuesday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited GMCH, said the gap between the "availability of medical oxygen and its supply to COVID-19 wards in the GMCH might have caused some issues for the patients" even as he stressed that there is no scarcity of oxygen supply in the state.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane admitted the shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen at the GMCH as of Monday.

"The high court should investigate the reasons behind these deaths. The HC should also intervene and prepare a white paper on oxygen supply to the GMCH, which would help to set things right," the health minister said after the CM's visit to the GMCH.

Representational Image/PTI

Rane said the medical oxygen requirement of the facility as of Monday was 1,200 jumbo cylinders of which only 400 were supplied.

11 COVID patients dead at Tirupati hospital

Tragedy struck the renowned Ruia Hospital in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati on Monday as 11 Covid patients lost their lives due to an interruption in oxygen supply.

The district authorities attributed the deaths to a five-minute delay in the arrival of an oxygen tanker at the hospital. However, with the oxygen supply restored immediately, a major tragedy was averted, the Collector said.

Around a thousand patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital. As the oxygen supply got affected all of a sudden, many patients began to choke. Doctors were seen attempting CPR procedures to revive the oxygen-starved patients, while kin of the patients used cardboard pieces to fan and revive them.

7 COVID patients dead in Hyderabad

Seven COVID patients at the King Koti Hospital in Hyderabad died after an oxygen tanker lost its way while trying to get to the hospital.

The delay resulted in an issue in the supply of oxygen seven patients admitted to the ICU died after the pressure of oxygen went down.

The oxygen tank was showing low pressure from the afternoon and the authorities looked to refill it.

However, the tanker got lost on the way.

The Naryanguda police traced the tanker and helped it reach its destination, but seven patients had already succumbed to the lack of oxygen.

11 patients die at TN govt hospital

At least 11 patients died at the Government Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital in Tamil Nadu earlier this month.

Though it is alleged that the patients died due to oxygen shortage, senior officials said it is not the case as the hospital has sufficient stock.

"As per initial reports, the hospital has sufficient stock of oxygen. It is not an oxygen supply issue. Only an inquiry would reveal as to the cause of death," J. Radhakrishnan, Health Secretary said.

AFP

A couple of days ago at the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital, relatives of patients alleged the deaths of six patients were due to disruption in supply of oxygen.

24 deaths in Chamarajanagar hospital

In Karnataka, 24 people died at Chamarajanagar Government District Hospital allegedly due to oxygen shortage in a span of 24 hours earlier in May.

A pall of gloom descended on the Chamarajanagar district hospital as the grieving kin of the deceased gathered after hearing the news.

Family members of the dead also staged a demonstration at the hospital and alleged there was a shortage of oxygen and raised slogans.

Five COVID patients die in Meerut

Family members of COVID-19 patients created ruckus after five succumbed to the disease at a private hospital on May 2.

The relatives have alleged that the patients died due to disruption in the oxygen supply.

"I had a talk with the doctors here. They said that the patients who died were co-morbid. Family members alleged that the oxygen supply was disrupted for some time. The allegations are a matter of investigation," said Chief Medical Officer of Meerut Akhilesh Mohan.

"The oxygen supply is very tight. The authorities are trying to fulfill the demand for the oxygen," Mohan added.

12 die at Delhi's Batra Hospital

On May 1, twelve COVID-19 patients, including the HOD of the gastroenterology department, of Batra Hospital in Delhi died due to oxygen shortage.

Batra Hospital in Delhi on Saturday told the Delhi High Court that it was out of oxygen supply for over an hour, which resulted in the deaths of 8 Covid-19 patients, including a doctor.

"We ran out of oxygen at 12 noon. We got oxygen at 1:35 pm. We have lost lives, including one of our own doctors."

The hospital has said in a statement that 8 patients died on Saturday due to lack of oxygen, including one doctor. "We ran our operation for almost an hour without oxygen supply," said Dr. SCL Gupta, Medical Director of Batra Hospital.

25 COVID patients die at Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital

In Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital alone, 25 "sickest" COVID-19 patients died in April.

The hospital's Director, Medical, said in a statement that they are resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and the emergency department.

"25 sickest patients have died in the last 24 hours. Oxygen will last another two hours. Ventilators and Bipap not working effectively. Resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and Emergency. Major crisis likely. Lives of another 60 sickest patients at risk, need urgent intervention," the statement said.