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lack of oxygen

Covid-19: Maharashtra requires manufacturers of medical oxygen to ensure storage of 95% of the entire capacity

by Medically Speaking September 26, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

MUMBAI: The government of Maharashtra has issued fresh guidelines to liquid medical oxygen manufacturers (LMO) in the State in an effort to prepare for a possible third wave of Covid-19.

Manufacturers and refillers were asked to maintain storage at 95% of their full capacity levels by September 30 and to maintain storage levels up to additional orders.

In the Order issued by Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte there were seven lakho active cases with an 1850MT of oxygen requirement between April and June 2021 and it was shown at that time that some manufacturers had reported significantly depleted LMO inventories.

To achieve 95 per cent storage capacity, LMO manufacturers have to ensure that their plants run at full production capacity.

District collectors also have been asked to maintain the highest feasible levels of oxygen storage in their areas.

The public health department must adjust non-medical oxygen use with medical use as the cases start to rise.

Maharashtra produces nearly 1400 MT of oxygen every day, but due to the increase in oxygen demand during the second wave, they had to rely on supply from other faraway states like Jharkhand and Odisha.

The state has begun the installation of several PSA oxygen plants to augment supply.

September 26, 2021 0 comment

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Kozhikode Medical College Hospital in Kerala experiences medical oxygen shortages, numerous operations postponed

by Medically Speaking September 2, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Many scheduled surgeries, including those for cancer patients, were cancelled on Wednesday at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kozhikode due to a medical oxygen shortage.

The situation began on Tuesday night, according to sources. Alternative measures were taken by the government, although these were not entirely effective. The remaining supply was chosen to be used exclusively for the COVID-19 critical care unit. Only life-threatening operations were permitted.

According to a doctor there, some of the patients were nevertheless shifted to operation theatres on Wednesday morning hoping that somehow a solution could be found. Though the doctors waited till 11 a.m., oxygen supply failed to arrive and the patients were sent back to the wards.

“About 50 scheduled surgeries may have been postponed. Not even one surgery, including those for cancer patients, could be performed till the afternoon on the day,” said the doctor.

Supply Diversion

It is learnt that technical glitches had hit the plant from where oxygen is supplied to the hospital. Some other doctors said the shortage could also be due to the supply being diverted to a new intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, efforts to arrange for supply from the Calicut International Airport failed to take off. However, fresh stock arrived from Kanjikode in Palakkad district by afternoon. Sources said that this was expected to meet the requirements till Thursday morning.

September 2, 2021 0 comment

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During the peak of the second Covid wave, 104 O2 cylinders went missing from the Sanjay Nagar district hospital

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

During the second wave of the pandemic, more than 100 oxygen cylinders destined for Covid-19 patients were allegedly taken from Sanjay Nagar District Combined Hospital (SNDCH). Based on the hospital’s allegation, police have arrested some unnamed individuals, and an investigation is continuing.

The hospital — an L2 category facility — dealt with patients having moderate Covid-19 symptoms and had used 60 oxygen cylinders per day between April 11 and May 11 this year.

“On June 8, 2021, our nursing staff said that 104 oxygen cylinders, including 82 D-type and 22 B-type, went missing from the hospital. We formed a committee of five officers immediately to probe the incident. It also came to light that an oxygen supply vendor had not returned 49 oxygen cylinders, and attendants of patients allegedly took away the remaining 55 cylinders amidst the mad rush in the hospital from mid of April… We have decided to uphold a payment of ₹3 lakh to the oxygen supply vendor,” said Dr Sanjay Teotia, chief medical superintendent, SNDCH.

“We have hospital marking on our oxygen cylinders and are numbered in an order. Following an FIR, an oxygen vendor returned 49 old and worn-out oxygen cylinders, without our marking. The remaining 55 cylinders are still missing, and we suspect that attendants of patients may have taken those away. Now, it is up to the police to recover the missing cylinders and take action against the suspects,” he added.

The hospital filed a police complaint on Thursday (August 26), and an FIR was lodged against unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 380 (theft) the same day at the Madhuban Bapudham police station. The hospital authorities have also written a letter to additional chief secretary (health), director general (medical health), divisional health officials and district officials on this matter.

“During the second Covid-19 wave, the hospital was equipped with CCTVs, and common people were also abstained from entering the premises. The oxygen cylinder stock and other equipment are the responsibility of the hospital. If they suspected that attendants of patients were stealing oxygen cylinders, they should have reported the incident immediately. The incident will be investigated thoroughly,” said a senior health department official, requesting anonymity.

Nipun Agarwal, superintendent of police (city 1), said, “We have lodged an FIR based on a complaint filed by the hospital authorities. We will investigate the case thoroughly.”

Meanwhile, the 100-bed hospital installed two new oxygen plants of 150 litres per minute (LPM) and 500 LPM, with centralised oxygen supply, in August.

August 30, 2021 0 comment

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Gurugram hospital to shut operations due to O2 shortage after death of 4

by Medically Speaking Team April 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

The management of Kathuria Hospital on Khandsa Road, where four people died due to an oxygen shortage on Sunday afternoon, decided to shut its operations after patients currently undergoing treatment recover. New admissions were also stopped, said hospital officials, citing shortage of oxygen as the reason for shutting operations, reports HT.

Dr AK Kathuria, the owner of Kathuria Hospital, said that operating the facility without an assured supply of oxygen is not feasible as another tragedy could unfold. “We are getting help from the district administration but the shortage is still acute. We have decided to discharge all patients by next week when their condition improves. We will cease operations till the situation changes,” said Kathuria.

On Tuesday, the hospital discharged six patients, while three were discharged on Wednesday. “We have 18 patients at present,” said Dr Kathuria.

Officials responsible for the oxygen supply said that they were also facing difficulties in supplying oxygen to smaller hospitals as the capacity to hold oxygen is less and it was not possible to supply it every two hours. The hospital has a capacity of 30 beds, with a requirement of 40 oxygen cylinders per day.

April 28, 2021 0 comment

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Covid patient dies due to lack of oxygen

by Medically Speaking Team April 21, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

A corona patient admitted in New Medical College Hospital of Kota died allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply on Tuesday.

The superintendent of the hospital, Nilesh Jain said, “We faced a 2-5 minute disturbance due to lack of cylinders resulting in the death of a woman. The amount of pressure to operate ventilator had gone down.”

The state health minister Raghu Sharma on Tuesday requested the Centre to ramp up the supply of medical-use oxygen to the state to meet the heightened demand due to the spike in the number of coronavirus cases.

He said the state has adequate number of beds as of now and can raise the number further up to three lakh, but it needs more oxygen to treat coronavirus patients.

April 21, 2021 0 comment