Oxygen supply, staff support a worry at CoEP jumbo hospital

PUNE: The death of three patients and shifting of at least 20 others within a week in the absence of adequate support, oxygen supply and manpower have raised questions about the efficacy of the 800-bed makeshift jumbo hospital on the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) grounds. The facility, built at a cost of Rs80 crore, was inaugurated by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray last month.
The latest casualty at the jumbo healthcare facility was on Wednesday morning when a city-based television journalist suffering from Covid-19 succumbed to the infection. Pandurang Raykar, 42, was admitted to the facility on Monday night and his family claimed that he died waiting for emergency medical transport that was supposed to shift him to another hospital after a serious drop in his oxygen levels.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Vikram Kumar said instructions have been issued to improve the oxygen supply and other facilities at the makeshift health hub. “I have personally visited the facility. Improvements have been suggested to the operators about oxygen beds and other management shortfalls,” he said.
Kumar said that of the 358 patients in the facility, 42 were on ICU beds and 30 were critical on Wednesday. “Orders have been issued to add more nursing and other staffers at the facility. We will review the functioning at the makeshift hospital and ensure improvement,” he said.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) had set up the facility in association with the PMC within 18 days. The facility has 800 beds, including 200 ICUs and 600 oxygenated beds and covers around 13,000sqft space. It became operational from August 25.
“The hospital was started without proper planning. It became operational without ensuring proper infrastructure,” city BJP chief Jagdish Mulik said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Vasant More said the lack of coordination between various authorities was a cause for concern in terms of the hospital’s functioning. “We have raised concerns about the poor Covid-19 management at the civic body’s general body meetings. But hardly any improvement is seen. The CoEP health facility does not have adequate staff,” he said.
MLA Siddharth Shirole said, “The jumbo care centre lacks essential facilities. The pandemic is peaking, but patients are being neglected.”
Shiv Sena city chief Sanjay More said, “The civic administration and the local leaders, who are at the helms of the affairs, don’t want to improve the situation. They are indulging in politics over the issue.”