PANAJI
Around 15 people succumbed to Covid allegedly due to a dropping in the oxygen levels the Goa government conceded before the Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday.
The Court which had ordered the Goa Health Authorities to do everything it takes to ensure that not even a single life is lost on account of a shortage of oxygen.
“Despite our order, we sadly record that even today, it is reported that there were almost 40 Covid-related casualties at the Goa Medical College. Out of these around 15 took place between the dark hours of 2 am and 6 am,” the Bombay High Court at Goa bench of Justices M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar, said.
The Advocate General as well as the Health Secretary assured the court claiming that that there is no dearth as such of oxygen but it is rather a logistical issue.
The process of changing the cylinders at the Goa Medical College supply is resulting in a dropping of oxygen levels during the night hours, the Goa government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday.
“There were logistical issues involved in manoeuvring the tractor which carries the trolleys of oxygen and inconnecting the cylinders to the manifold. During this process there was some interruption, which resulted in fall of pressure in the supply lines of oxygen to the patients. It is basically on account of these factors some casualties may have taken place,” the State government told the court.
“While we appreciate the efforts being made by all concerned, we are quite pained that such logistical issues should give rise to such serious consequences to the Covid victims. We expect the State administration to find out ways and means to overcome these logistical issues, so that precious life is not lost on account of any deficiencies in the matter of supply of oxygen to the patients,” the High Court noted.
The government sought to assure the High Court that everything possible was being done to ensure adequate oxygen supply.
“The Dura Cylinders will be positively installed and made operational at the Goa Medical College today itself which to some extent, will assist in tiding over the difficulties which invariably arise at the time when one set of cylinders/trolleys is replaced by another,” Health Secretary Ravi Dhawan, said.
He also assured the court to engage services of an expert drivers to drive and manoeuvre the tractors for transportation of trolleys from the plant at Corlim to the Goa Medical College, which he said was not available until today and thirdly informed the court that almost 323 oxygen concentrators are being flown into the State and will be available for use at the Goa Medical College by today itself.
Besides this, the Health Secretary told the Court that steps are already being taken to install a tank for storage of oxygen at the Goa Medical College itself so that the Hospital will not have to rely on trolleys.
“This installation will be completed by May 17. The tank was originally used for storage of Nitrogen and, therefore,the same will have to undergo some process before it can be used for storage of oxygen. We direct the State Administration to take all steps necessary to ensure that the installation is completed by May 17. This is because it is pointed out to us that once this tank is installed, the issue of uninterrupted supply of oxygen will be sorted out to a great extent,” the High Court said.
The Health Secretary has now been directed to file a status report tomorrow by 6 pm by email.
“If we are satisfied with the status report, we will hold further proceedings on May 17 (Monday). However, if we are not satisfied with the status report or if we feel that any further directions are necessary, then, we make it clear that we will hold the proceedings on 15.05.2021, even though it is a Saturday,” the High Court warned.
