Can’t increase Covid beds: PGI

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 8

Facing acute shortage of oxygen, PGI today expressed its inability to increase the Covid bed strength.

“The PGIMER has been designated as the Covid hospital of UT Chandigarh and is allocated a quota of 20 MT oxygen per day to meet its requirements,” read a PGI statement.

“As on date, we at the PGIMER have already reached the consumption of 20 MT per day in view of the consistent surge in the patient load of Covid-19,” the institute stated.

“Therefore, it may not be possible to increase the Covid bed strength in PGIMER in case the oxygen allocation is not enhanced with immediate effect,” it added.

The statement comes in response to UT Adviser Manoj Parida’s remarks on supply of oxygen cylinders to PGI.

Parida had stated that the UT was already providing 20 MT oxygen to PGI out of its quota of 40 MT and no more oxygen/cylinders could be given to the institute without disrupting functioning of government and private hospitals assigned to the UT.

Firm denies supply to PGI

Earlier in the day, oxygen suppliers Anaesthetic Gases Pvt Ltd denied supply to the PGI.

In a letter to PGI Director, Anaesthetic Gases mentioned that during an inspection at their plant in Dera Bassi, officers from the UT noticed that the firm had supplied ‘B’ type medical oxygen gas cylinders to PGI.

“The officers clearly told us not to supply ‘B’ type medical oxygen cylinders to PGIMER. As per their direction, we will be unable to supply medical oxygen gas in ‘B’ type cylinders to you till further instructions,” read the letter.

Yashpal Garg, nodal officer for oxygen supplies in UT, said, “Despite clear instructions to the vendor, it was observed that some of the cylinders from the PGIMER were being filled without any permission from the UT Administration.”

“The vendor was directed to use the 20 MT oxygen quota for specific hospitals only. For filling of cylinders from PGI, oxygen may be supplied by the PGIMER out of its exclusive quota of 20 MT,” said Garg.

A PGI spokesperson said, “Considering the Covid-19 patient load here in PGIMER and incessantly increasing demand for medical oxygen, this kind of directive can lead to panic.”

Chandigarh has been assigned a quota of 40 MT oxygen, which includes 20 MT oxygen exclusively for PGI. About 17 MT oxygen is directly used at GMCH-32, GMSH-16 and Sector 48 hospital and remaining 3 MT is given to a private vendor in Dera Bassi to refill cylinders for government hospitals under the UT and private hospitals.

‘Increase quota to 40 MT’

The PGI has written to UT Adviser Manoj Parida to forward its request of increasing medical oxygen quota to 40 MT daily in view of a manifold increase in patient load.

The request was forwarded to the Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, GOI, by the UT Administration.

A letter written by PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram read: “I wish to bring to your notice that about 1,886 indoor patients, including 194 in ICU and 277 in emergency, Covid as well as non-Covid requiring oxygen support, are admitted to different wards of the institute.”

“Due to an increase in the number of patients arriving to the PGI emergency over the past few days, the consumption of oxygen has increased tremendously,” he said.

“At present, 20 MT of liquid medical oxygen is allocated and we are already consuming it. Going by the present trend, this is going to further increase rapidly. To cope up with the increasing rush of Covid patients, the institute will require more liquid medical oxygen for treating these critical patients,” he added.