10 April,2021 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
Shortage of oxygen cylinders in the Vasai-Nalasopara-Virar areas is also leading to COVID-19 deaths. Pic/Hanif Patel
The second wave of COVID-19 infections has landed the Vasai-Nalasopara-Virar areas of Palghar district in a new problem, an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders, which in turn is leading to deaths, as hospitals are not being able to admit critically ill patients. Apart from this, the hospitals in the area are also facing a shortage of remdesivir vials. With no option left, patients' relatives and family members are arranging for them by paying double the price.
According to data available with the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), on an average the area has been recording about 500 positive cases daily. "The civic-run COVID hospitals as well as private beds at various facilities are fully occupied," said VVCMC PRO Ganesh Patil.
Dealer Nitin Serejo of Leo Oxygen told mid-day that he had been supplying oxygen cylinders to about 75 hospitals in the area but with the surge in cases, he was unable to provide the adequate number of cylinders.
"On normal days, one hospital needs four cylinders, but since most of the hospitals are treating COVID-19 patients now, they require at least 50 cylinders daily. This has also caused a major shortage of empty cylinders and one has to wait for at least 45 days to two months to get them from manufacturing plants," said Serejo. He further said, "We have proper supply of the gas but due to the shortage of cylinders, the hospitals have to suffer. The patients are at the receiving end."
Dr Malcom Pestonji from Golden Park Hospital in Vasai said, "It is true that there is an acute shortage of supply of oxygen cylinders. We are not being able to admit critically ill patients in our hospital due to the shortage. How will we treat patients who need more oxygen?"
"There is also a shortage of Remdesivir vials in the market. We need at least 40 vials each day but we get only 20. There are 50 beds in my hospital and all of them are oxygen ones. Eight out of the 50 are ICU beds, which are occupied," Dr. Pestonji added.
Dr. Pravin Thorat of Appaseth Thorat Multi-speciality Hospital and Criticare Centre in Vasai, said, "Oxygen plays a vital role in treating COVID-19 patients whose lungs get badly affected. But there is a severe shortage of it, which is really alarming." "Due to this we are referring patients to civic hospitals in Mumbai because all the hospitals here are facing the same problems," he added.
Dr. Thorat further added that there was a severe shortage of Remdesivir vials in the market. "One COVID-19 patient needs seven vials of Remdesivir to recover. We have been asking the relatives of patients to arrange for the vials. We have learnt that the medicine is being sold at double the price," he said.
There are two civic-run hospitals in Vasai-Virar and Nalasopara area. "One in Chandansar, Virar East, has 150 beds, including 50 oxygen beds, and all of them are occupied. Another one is in Kaul City, Vasai, which has 49 beds, including 45 ICU ones, all of which is occupied," said PRO Patil.
"Also, there are two quarantine facilities - Varun Industry with 1,050 beds, out of which 100 are occupied, and MHADA quarantine centre in Virar with 300 beds, which will be made operational from Saturday," added Patil.
