Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: As shortage of oxygen supply again led to death of 15 Covid patients in Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) on wee hours of Thursday, the Bombay High court at Goa apologized to the people of the State and said “we failed to save lives…we say Sorry…we will continue our efforts”.
The Division Bench tendered apology as the Bench had directed the State government and the GMC Dean to ensure that there are no deaths reported due to oxygen shortage.
The Court has sought detail report on oxygen tank, Dura cylinder, oxygen concentrator and tractor drivers from the government by Friday 7.00pm. If reports are not satisfactory than the Court will continue its hearing again on Saturday.
When the matter came up for hearing today, the Court observed that on May 12 there were 70 deaths while on wee hours of Thursday, 15 died due to shortage of oxygen supply.
“What is the actual problem behind deaths between 2.00am to 6.00am?” Court questioned adding that the statics show us that deaths have happened due to lack of Oxygen and GMC cannot go on denial mode since the issue is not been sorted out.
“We can not let anyone dies due to shortage of Oxygen,” Court noted.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed Court that beyond our local problem in supply of oxygen, there is some medical condition due to which Oxygen fluctuate in the body, it is global issue which experts can explain.
The AG also said that oxygen supply from the plant to the Hospital is also problematic due to shortage of trained tractor drivers and replacement of oxygen cylinders also take time.
The SCOOP Oxygen company representative intervene and informed Court that there is ample oxygen and cylinder availability.
To which, Advocate General countered stating Scoop supplied Oxygen to GMC but stopped supply to some private hospitals of South Goa, that also created problem, later and had to divert some oxygen to those private hospitals.
Informing about the midnight situation, Secretary Health said that last night we had supplied required number. of Oxygen cylinders and that police escorted Oxygen trolleys. He also said that a green corridor was created to minimise oxygen cylinder transportation time.
Further, he told Court that 323 high end Oxygen concentrators are coming to Goa using Air force flight.
He also told Court that government is making arrangements for some tractor drivers from Karnataka and Maharashtra to transport cylinders.
Participating in the hearing, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that the hospital came up with lot of solution after HC’s intervention and that situation has improved now and not all deaths are due to lack of Oxygen.
Dean informed Court that a decision has been taken to shift the critical patients from GMC to super speciality block.
Intervener NGO Goa Covid service to High Court that when the cylinder is replaced Oxygen flow goes down, but there is no mechanism to check available with the doctors.
The hearing conclude today and no hearing will take place on Friday on account of public holiday.
