No oxygen tanks in 13 of 19 district hospitals in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Five months after Covid-19 broke out in Karnataka, 13 of the 19 district hospitals run by the health and family welfare department have no in-house liquid oxygen tanks on their premises. These are a critical requirement to treat pandemic patients and these hospitals are still acquiring them.
Oxygen support is a lifesaver for most symptomatic patients, and this has led to a multifold increase in demand. The government held a meeting on Tuesday to set up necessary infrastructure in hospitals. District hospitals invited tenders for setting up oxygen tanks, but have received lukewarm response.
The issue figured on the radar after dozens of patients were shifted out of a government hospital in Bengaluru and an equal number from a private hospital over oxygen supply issues last week. In Bengaluru, KC General Hospital and Jayanagar General Hospital have in-house tanks and are ramping up the capacity.
‘Shortage of oxygen cylinders a worry’
The shortage of oxygen cylinders in Bengaluru hospitals is giving us sleepless nights. We appointed a person to monitor oxygen levels in our inventory,” said authorities at Jayanagar General Hospital, where an additional 6-kilolitre oxygen tank is coming up for which excavation work is on.
“In Tumakuru and Davanagere, two bidders participated in the tender. In 11 districts, we received a single bidder or none. We’ll take up work considering the emergency. The government has approved it,” said Pankaj Kumar Pandey, commissioner, health and family welfare department. The construction of a 6-kilolitre oxygen tank will cost Rs 45 lakh. In Mysuru, the district hospital is working on an oxygen- generation plant.