As Covid cases surge, private hospitals in Nagpur gasping for oxygen

NAGPUR: With the rise in number of Covid-19 patients needing oxygen, the demand has gone up substantially at both government and private hospitals. While government hospitals have sufficient stock of medical oxygen, private hospitals say they are grappling with the supply constraints.
Even government doctors feel oxygen supply is becoming a major worry at private hospitals and the civic body must ensure there is no shortage as they too are treating Covid patients.
Civil surgeon Dr Devendra Paturkar said medical oxygen availability as on date is commensurate with the demand. “Ramping up storage facilities is underway. Liquid storage tanks of 20kl (20,000 litres) have been proposed at GMCH and IGGMCH. Additional procurement of jumbo cylinders is being actively considered. The additional oxygen requirement shall depend on case numbers,” he said, adding Nagpur will cross 60,000 cases by this weekend.
NMC health committee chairman Virendra Kukreja admitted oxygen supply would pose a problem in private hospitals. “We are trying to resolve it,” he said.
GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande said 375 patients are being given oxygen through central pipeline, while cylinders are used for the rest. “We have sufficient stock,” he added.
IGGMCH deputy medical superintendent (Corona patient care) Dr Sagar Pandey said the hospital has sufficient supply because of in-house storage plant. “Liquid oxygen is procured and supplied to patients through central pipeline. There is also no change in cost and availability is as per bed capacity, though the demand has shot up,” he said.
Dr Anshul Chadda, director of Aureus Institute of Medical Sciences, said, “We are facing great trouble in getting oxygen and this unavailability is preventing us from accepting more patients.”
General and paediatric surgeon Dr Pradeep Arora feels the situation is far better as compared to other cities. “The oxygen supply is good in city though there are minor hiccups now and then. But overall, the doctors have faced far less shortage compared to other places,” he said.
Vidarbha Hospitals Association secretary Dr Alok Umre said production is not as per demand, beside rates have also been doubled. “The government has put a cap on hospitalization charges, while oxygen suppliers have hiked the prices. In the first place, suppliers have already made it clear that they won’t be able to increase supply if we are converting into Covid hospital. They are sticking to same quantity as per our earlier requirement,” he said.
Dr Umre added many hospitals are sending alerts, but to no avail.