New Delhi, May 9

Amid a surge in Covid cases in UP and shortage of medical oxygen, Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar has written to CM Yogi Adityanath complaining about a section of important medical officers in Bareilly not answering their phones, much to the inconvenience of patients and their families.

In his letter to Yogi, he also flagged hoarding of oxygen cylinders by people in the area, triggering shortages. “I have come to know that there is a severe shortage of empty oxygen cylinders in Bareilly. The reason is hoarding...,” he wrote.

He also complained against medical officers of the area, saying they did not answer their phones. “I have a suggestion which is also a complaint. It is about certain important officers associated with medical services in Bareilly who do not answer their phone. This is causing inconvenience to patients,” the minister wrote.

Flagging delays in admissions, the minister pointed out that he had learnt of Covid patients being asked to get a referral from district hospitals when they reached a government hospital. “It has come to my notice that post referral when a patient reaches a government hospital, he/she is again asked to get a referral from the district hospital. The patients keep running helter-skelter. Their oxygen levels keep dropping. This is a matter of grave concern. The referral procedure must be streamlined to ensure Covid patients do not have to run here and there for treatment,” he added. — TNS