11 ventilators with Muktsar govt hospitals, none used

Tribune News Service
Muktsar, May 3

The government hospitals in Muktsar district have 11 ventilators, but are unable to operate even one.

Sources in the Health Department say seven ventilators are available at the Civil Hospital, Muktsar; two at the Civil Hospital, Malout; and one each at the Gidderbaha and Badal Civil Hospitals.

But these ventilators are of no use for the patients as in case of emergency they have to rush to private hospitals. The district has reported 166 Covid deaths so far.

Dr Ranju Singla, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Muktsar, said, “We don’t have manpower, like anaesthetists, medical specialists and officers, required to operate the ventilators. We are now planning to shift five ventilators to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot.”

Asked whether the local staff would be able to run the remaining six ventilators, she said, “If we get manpower, then only we will be able to run the remaining ventilators. Or we can give the remaining ventilators to any private hospital, if demanded. In case of acute emergency, we can run only one ventilator, but are unable to maintain that.”

She, however, claimed there was no shortage of oxygen at government hospitals. “We have oxygen support on all beds,” she said.

Muktsar DC MK Aravind Kumar said the Civil Hospital was converted into a 100-bed Covid hospital today.