26 Covid-19 patients die at Goa Hospital; state health minister seeks HC probe

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said 26 Covid19 patients died at the staterun Goa Medical College and Hospital GMCH in the early hours and sought an investigation by the High Court to find out the exact causeHe said these fatalities occurred between 2 am and 6 am which is a fact but remained evasive about the causeGoa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who visited GMCH said the gap between the availability of medical oxygen and its supply to Covid19 wards in the GMCH might have caused some issues for the patients even as he stressed that there is no scarcity of oxygen supply in the stateHe also visited GMCH earlier and posted about it on TwitterWill be holding a meeting with the medical and administrative team to resolve all the issues and to ensure that everyone gets necessary facilities 22mdash Dr Pramod Sawant DrPramodPSawant May 11 2021Speaking to reporters Rane admitted the shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen at the GMCH as of MondayThe high court should investigate the reasons behind these deaths The HC should also intervene and prepare a white paper on oxygen supply to the GMCH which would help to set the things right the health minister said after CMs visit to the GMCHRane said the medical oxygen requirement of the facility as of Monday was 1200 jumbo cylinders of which only 400 were suppliedIf theres a shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen the discussion should be held about how to bridge that gap he saidRane said a threemember team of nodal officers set up by the state government to oversee Covid19 treatment at GMCH should give its inputs about the issues to the CMEarlier in the day the CM donning a PPE kit visited Covid19 wards in the GMCH where he met patients and their relativesThere are issues over the availability of oxygen in these wards which need to be sorted out the CM saidHe announced the setting up of a wardwise mechanism to ensure a smooth supply of medical oxygenDoctors who are busy treating patients cannot spend their time in arranging logistics like oxygen I will hold a meeting immediately to set up wardwise mechanisms to ensure that oxygen is supplied to patients in time Sawant told reportersThe CM said there was no dearth of medical oxygen and cylinders in the state but the problem arises sometimes as these cylinders do not reach their destinations on timeSawant said the state government is making efforts on all fronts to tackle the pandemicWe have abundant supplies of medical oxygen There is no scarcity in the state he saidGoas Covid19 tally stood at 121650 as of May 10 while 50 deaths had taken the toll to 1729 an official had saidMeanwhile Sawant warned of action against private hospitals that refuse the coverage of Deen Dayal Swastha Seva Yojana DDSSY to Covid19 patientsHe said the pending financial dues on part of private hospitals under this scheme will be cleared in the next 15 daysThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever