Oxygen concentrator bank opens in Bathinda

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 24

The district administration, with the help of Red Cross Society, has set up an oxygen concentrator bank in the city for Covid-19 patients who have been discharged from hospitals.

The Red Cross will provide oxygen concentrators at a rent of Rs 200 per day for 10 days to the patients, who will have to return the equipment after recovering.

“People are facing problems in arranging oxygen cylinders at home. Even the price of oxygen concentrators is too high, which everyone can’t afford. So, the administration has started this service to help them,” said an official.

Disclosing this here today, Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said to get the oxygen concentrator machine, it would be necessary for the treating doctor or the hospital to give an undertaking that the family members of the patient had been provided complete information about operating the machine. “In case of any difficulty, monitoring the machine will be the responsibility of the doctor or paramedical staff of the hospital,” he clarified.

Srinivasan said: “To procure the machine, a refundable security of Rs 10,000 will have to be deposited with the District Red Cross Society.”

For further information, one can contact District Secretary Darshan Kumar on 98726-66803 and senior assistant Vidya Sagar on 98145-99501.

“Normally, people need oxygen concentrators for a few days or a week or two, but they have to spend a lot to purchase a new one.

The bank will ease the pain of such patients and their family members,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that a month ago, an oxygen concentrator that normally costs about Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 is now being sold for Rs 70,000 to Rs 85,000. It is a life-saving instrument meant to be used at home by patients whose oxygen saturation dips below 80 mm of Hg.