Goa: 26 COVID-19 patients die at GMCH, minister seeks probe
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said that 26 COVID-19 patients died at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in the early hours and sought an investigation by the High Court to find out the exact cause. He said that these fatalities occurred between 2 am and 6 am but remained evasive about the cause.
No scarcity of oxygen supply in the state: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited GMCH, said that the gap between the "availability of medical oxygen and its supply to COVID-19 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 Goa. Many COVID-19 patients have succumbed to death due to oxygen shortage in the past few weeks.
Rane admits oxygen was an issue at GMCH on Monday
Speaking to reporters, Rane admitted to a shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen at the GMCH as of Monday. "The 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 things right," the Health Minister said after CM's visit to the GMCH.
Only 400 cylinders were supplied to GMCH on Monday: Rane
Rane said that the medical oxygen requirement of the facility as of Monday was 1,200 jumbo cylinders of which only 400 were supplied. Sawant announced the setting up of a ward-wise mechanism to ensure a smooth supply of medical oxygen.
Doctors cannot spend time in arranging logistics like oxygen: Sawant
"Doctors, who are busy treating patients, cannot spend their time in arranging logistics like oxygen. I will hold a meeting immediately to set up ward-wise mechanisms to ensure that oxygen is supplied to patients in time," Sawant said. Talking about the death of patients, he said, "Only medical experts can certify whether they died due to shortage of oxygen or any other medical reason."
Liquid oxygen storage tank to be installed at GMCH
Later, after holding the review meeting, he told reporters that certain corrective steps have been taken. "Jumbo cylinders were not reaching in time. The hospital requires 400 jumbo cylinders but now provision would be made to get 600. A liquid oxygen storage tank will be installed in GMCH within the next 8-10 days with a capacity of 20 metric tons," he informed.
200 beds will be added in the Super Speciality Block
"Further, to decrease the load on GMCH, beds in the Super Speciality Block would be increased by 200 and some patients from GMCH would be shifted there," Sawant said. "Those patients who do not require oxygen would be shifted to a hospital set up at Dr. Shama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium," Sawant added.
Goa recorded 2,804 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday
On Tuesday, Goa reported 2,804 fresh COVID-19 cases, thus pushing the total state tally to 1,21,650 COVID-19 cases. The state recorded 50 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday thus pushing the total COVID-19 deaths to 1,729. The state has so far recorded 87,659 COVID-19 recoveries.
