‘Oxygen plants under PM Cares fund yet to be set up in state’

Panaji: During the hearing of public interest litigations pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was pointed out before the high court of Bombay at Goa that the two oxygen plants sanctioned for Goa under the PM Cares fund haven’t been setup yet.
Stating that eight of these plants have already been setup in Madhya Pradesh, advocate Parag Rao, who represented petitioner Nandagopal Kudchadkar, submitted that these plants are essential to ensure uninterrupted and adequate oxygen supply and also do away with dependence on oxygen supply from external agencies.
Advocate Jonathan George, representing the Mapusa Advocates Forum, demanded urgent protocol for treatment of mucomycosis.
He also raised the issue of the Goa government approving Ivermectin as a therapeutic or prophylactic use medication, adding that it is neither approved by WHO, DCGI or international regulatory authorities.
On the issue of fire safety, petitioner Anup Verlekar said hospitals have a lot of inflammable material and that fire safety in Covid care centres must be checked too. He also said the fire extinguishers installed in GMC’s ward 137 haven’t been serviced.
The petition filed by the Mapusa Advocates Forum has sought a direction to the government to ensure that there are adequate numbers of PICU and NICU, along with general ward beds, and medical facilities dedicated to children and/or minors.