PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party has ripped into the Pramod Sawant-led State government for worsening the oxygen crisis by disallowing the refilling of oxygen cylinders brought by relatives and private individuals helping patients in need.
Reacting furiously to the news of the latest order which says that District Collectors’ permission will be required for refilling oxygen cylinders, State convenor Rahul Mhambre termed it a “sadistic” move that could only be made by someone who derives pleasure from inflicting further pain, suffering, and humiliation on desperate patients and relatives.
Highlighting another incident of oxygen supply running out, this time at GMC Ward 147, Mhambre said that CM Pramod Sawant has not only failed to make any serious attempt to solve the oxygen crisis but has instead passed such draconian orders that are costing the lives of patients.
“Such incidents of oxygen supply running out in the middle of the night in entire wards are becoming routine at GMC. Imagine the plight of relatives who attend to the patients all day and can’t even sleep at night out of fear of losing their loved one due to oxygen shortage,” Mhambre said.
Mhambre expressed regret that it took the deaths of 800 Goans before the CM finally visited the Covid ward on Tuesday.
He slammed the CM for continuing to justify the deaths of patients.
Stating that innocent lives have been lost, Mhambre opined that the CM and Health Minister should be held directly responsible for the deaths of patients caused by the government's failure to provide oxygen.
“Just as the CM and HM blame the people for deaths citing comorbidities and delay in admission, it is only fair that they now take the blame for the deaths that occur due to their inability to guarantee oxygen supply. Directorate of Health Services should now mark “Failure of BJP Govt to provide oxygen” as the cause of death on the same mortality bulletin that blames people for the other causes of deaths,” Mhambre said.
Mhambre pointed out that Goa is the only state in the country that publishes a daily mortality bulletin, stating that the sole intention of this bulletin is to shift the blame of deaths on the people themselves.
