Due to the shortage of medical oxygen, eight corona infected patients have succumbed yesterday (Thursday, 27 May) in Pokhara based Western Regional Hospital drawing a lot of backlashes from the opposition party as well as the kins of the deceased. 

Pokhara. 

During the time that the patients were being  treated in the isolation ward of the hospital, which is under Pokhara Health Science Institute, the deceased were unable to administer the required high flow of oxygen  as the oxygen plant ran out suddenly owing to power cut for half an hour that delayed the oxygen supply. Those who died were already suffering from their existing medical problems like diabetes, kidney and liver issues. 

Among them, three were inhabitants of Tanahu district, two from Kaski district whereas each person hailed from Myagdi, Syangja and Parbat district respectively.

The relatives however have refuted the  administration claims and instead are blaming the hospital for it's negligence.

The incharge Doctor David Shrestha clarified that the hospital did not get the adequate supply of oxygen gas cylinders from the private oxygen plant company as for the last 24hours, 360 cylinders were constantly consumed.

Also, Doctor Sharad Chandra Baral, from the hospital covid ward admitted that because of the daily high demand of 350 and more oxygen cylinder in contrast with  getting only 250 cylinders and partly due to the growing number of patients in the last two or three days that needs to intake the high flow oxygen have caused their shortage and this havoc followed by maternal deaths in this medical institution. 

The hospital from 3 days had shut down all its OPD services inorder to look after the administered 80 patients in the emergency ward.

The director of the hospital Doctor Bharat Bahadur Khatri stated that, they are ready to set up the plant as soon as possible in the next four to eight weeks.

Though, the hospital is one of the largest government hospital in the Gandaki Province, they do not have their own oxygen plant. At present, the oxygen gas supplier of the hospital is Pokhara oxygen gas company since every year the administration signs contract with an oxygen dealer company through  tender process. 

Meanwhile, only five hospitals in Pokhara including Manipal Teaching Hospital,Gandaki Medical College, Maternal Child Hospital,Fishtail and Fewacity Hospital have installed the oxygen plant. 

The two private oxygen gas companies are  Pokhara oxygen gas company  and Kaligandaki gas company with 1500 and  2500 cylinders respectively.

   Picture courtesy:Aadarsha Samaj      daily;eadarsha.com

Earlier, the state health directorate had stated that in Gandaki Province, 1,489 cylinders are produced every other day which can be shown below.

In order to upgrade infrastructures , the state government had decided to support the Western Regional Hospital with a substantial amount of Rs 6.2 million and hand over 5,000 oxygen cylinders but with the news like this circulated every now and then about people dying due to the inadequate health system and standard of our country raises a huge question on their commitment .

Apart from that, the business firm Batas group has also taken up the initiative to set up the plant whilst donating Rs 2.5 million grant  to the hospital that will generate about 10 to 15 cubic meters of oxygen at an hourly rate .

            Picture courtesy: The rising Nepal

Asking for a justification from the government, Nepali Congress  has circulated a press release regarding the matter as a serious concern which needs to be addressed  for the well being of the public. 

Note: The feature image of the hospital is from eadarsha.com.