Goa: 150-bed superspecialty block starts for Covid treatment

PANAJI: The new superspecialty block at Goa Medical College (GMC), Bambolim, was commissioned on Wednesday to treat Covid patients. All its 150 beds are equipped with oxygen supply, and more beds in the facility will be added if need be, chief minister Pramod Sawant said.
“The facility has been equipped with an oxygen tank of 20,000 litres,” he said. “Initially, 150 oxygen beds covering two floors of the block will be utilized for Covid treatment, and the same shall be scaled up as per requirement. Already, a trial of the oxygen supply, etc, has been carried out for two days under the supervision of the dean,” Sawant said.
Sawant said that the facilities and systems being put in place for Covid management in Goa will see the death rate dropping within the next ten days.
“Doctors alone cannot reduce the deaths”,” he said. “Patients have to report to hospitals as soon as possible and those with comorbidities should immediately get themselves admitted. Everyday, there are at least ten deaths where the patient dies within 24 hours. Every day, two-three persons are brought dead. The manner in which we are putting systems in place from the PHC level to the apex hospital level, it is my estimate that the death rate will reduce considerably in the next ten days. We have started tracking up to the very last patient.”
He said that commissioning of the superspecialty block will automatically reduce the oxygen cylinder requirement at GMC. “The oxygen supply in the new block will be met from the central tank of 20,000 liters capacity, so automatically the requirement of cylinders will come down. The other good news is that we are getting 30 oxygen concentrators for GMC. Another 150-200 oxygen concentrators are being provided to us by Vedanta and Fomento companies by privately sourcing them. More will be given by Siemens, which will also be setting up an oxygen generation plant,” said Sawant.
He said that oxygen concentrators, when installed near the bed, can directly generate oxygen through the air and supplies it to the patient.
“Once it is fitted, there is no need for separate oxygen supply to be provided. Within two days, the issue of getting oxygen cylinders will be resolved, and our oxygen generation issues will be resolved,” said Sawant.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane said that the CM has directed exploring the possibility of setting up of smaller oxygen generation plants at GMC.
“CM has told us to consider setting up smaller oxygen generation plants, which can be installed in 20sq ft area. This will do away with need for at least 120 cylinders,” Rane said.