Chandigarh: At least six patients on oxygen support in a private hospital in Amritsar died following a disruption to the oxygen supply in the facility last night. Of them, five patients were suspected to be Covid positive.
While confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Khera told ThePrint Saturday morning that his team was at the hospital to assess why supply to the hospital was disrupted.
“What we have come to know immediately is that the oxygen supply fell short last night and the hospital could not save these patients. We are getting more details,” he said.
The incident took place at Neelkanth Hospital located on the Fatehgarh Churian road.
Hospital authorities blamed the Amritsar administration, alleging it had curtailed oxygen to private hospitals due to which the tragedy happened.
Speaking to the media, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said oxygen supply to private hospitals had not been curtailed and the government was finding out what actually happened.
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‘Govt hospitals being prioritised’
Sunil Devgan, the chief managing director of Neelkanth Hospital, told media Saturday that their trucks had been waiting to transport oxygen from their regular suppliers in Amritsar but were not given any consignment.
“My trucks are still standing outside the gates of the suppliers even now as oxygen cylinders are still not being provided. I have sent my truck to Jammu where I’ve been told there is some supply available,” he said.
Another hospital official, on the condition of anonymity, added that six other patients who were on oxygen support, are stable. “The six who died were extremely sick,” he added, saying the hospital has 100 beds of which 30 have been kept for Covid patients.
Sources in the hospital said following the supply disruption across the country, private hospitals had met the Deputy Commissioner Khera Friday afternoon, requesting a continuous supply of oxygen.
Private hospitals were, however, told that first preference was being given to government hospitals, including the Government Medical College in Amritsar.
“Punjab Police men are manning the oxygen suppliers in Amritsar. They are not allowing any oxygen to be released to a private hospital giving the plea that the demand in the government hospital has to be fulfilled first,” said Devgan.
He further alleged that he had written mails to the administration and also made several phone calls to the media seeking help, but didn’t receive any.
(Edited by Manasa Mohan)
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