Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa government today declined to set up Judicial Commission to probe into the shortage of oxygen supply in Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) that led to death of several COVID-19 patients. It also turned down the demand for conduct of audit into the deaths related to coronavirus.
When the matter came up for hearing today morning before the division bench of the Bombay High court at Goa, the Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, officials and bureaucrats have worked tirelessly and with full dedication during the entire pandemic and more particularly, during the second wave.
“Subjecting them to a judicial inquiry would be highly unjust and would have an effect of demoralizing the entire workforce. Medical personnel and bureaucrats should not be subjected to such treatment in the name of PIL,” he submitted before the Court.
AG maintained that the state administration and the healthcare workers worked tirelessly to resolve the issue of COVID deaths.
“In these circumstances, it is submitted that burdening the State administration and the health care system with Judicial inquiry will be counterproductive, especially in the backdrop of a possible 3rd wave and its preparations. No purpose will be served by ordering such an inquiry,” Pangam said further.
He also said that the issue of ex-gratia compensation to the kin of the victim is seized by the Supreme Court.
He also informed that government has already set up Committee to inquire into Oxygen issue at GMC.
The petitioner had claimed that Various persons admitted in the Government Hospitals have lost their lives only due inadequate supply of oxygen. Some of these victims were the sole bread winners of the family, some children have lost both their parents, etc.
Further, the AG while ruling out audit of the COVID deaths, informed Court that there is no incidents of under reporting of COVID deaths; however, there have been recent cases where private hospitals have delayed death reports. He said that such hospitals will be penalized as per law.
The AG also claimed that the buffer stock of 40KL of oxygen and life saving medicine will be enough to cater the third wave of Covid and that there is no shortage.
“On the basis of our experience during pick of 2nd wave, we are confident that this buffer stock is sufficient to cater the requirements during 3rd wave, still we will request the expert committee to review the buffer stock and possible requirements,” he assured Court.
