Centralised Oxygen Supply at Hospitals: Three in Dhaka getting it in days
With the need to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply at public hospitals having become increasingly critical in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, there appears to be a glimmer of hope as the authorities concerned are moving towards installing oxygen tanks in more hospitals.
Work is underway to install liquid oxygen tanks at three public hospitals in Dhaka to ensure central oxygen supply to ailing patients and is expected to be completed within 10 days, officials said.
Moreover, a proposal to install liquid oxygen tanks in 11 more public hospitals across the country were sent to the health ministry on Tuesday and another proposal for 13 more is expected to be sent today. Once approved, officials are hopeful of completing the work by the end of June.
The move came within a week of a health ministry document painting a grim picture of central oxygen supply in public hospitals.
In a letter sent to the National Electro-Medical Equipment Maintenance Workshop and Training Center (NEMEMW and TC) on June 2, the health ministry said most of the 39 major public hospitals, including those dedicated to treating coronavirus patients, still do not have a nonstop supply of this essential treatment for critical Covid-19 patients.
These hospitals, constructed by the Public Works Department, have medical gas pipeline systems, but most lack the central oxygen supply supported by liquid tanks.
Instead, they rely on oxygen cylinders. As a result, it is not possible to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to critical coronavirus patients, who suffer from severe respiratory problems, health officials said.
Health experts said uninterrupted oxygen supply could save many lives. Besides, a patient can be given oxygen at a maximum rate of six litres per minute using a cylinder but many need more oxygen, which a central oxygen supply can provide, they said.
The ministry asked NEMEMW and TC to ensure liquid oxygen tanks at those of the major 39 public hospitals that do not have it on an urgent basis to activate a central oxygen supply system.
It also asked that steps be taken to expand gas system lines if necessary. Total of 21 public hospitals across the country are equipped with central oxygen system now, officials said.
Aminur Rahman, chief technical manager of NEMEMW and TC, said installation of liquid oxygen tanks at Kurmitola General Hospital, Kuwait-Bangladesh Maitree Government Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital is already underway after getting "verbal approval" from the ministry.
Two companies were tasked with the project and hoped to complete the work within 10 days, he told The Daily Star yesterday.
He said only two companies in Bangladesh, one local and one multinational, can supply and install the central oxygen supply system.
Aminur said they have already talked with the companies and once approved, Spectra Oxygen Limited will install liquid oxygen tanks at 11 hospitals while Linde Bangladesh Ltd will work in 13 hospitals.
The 11 hospitals whose proposals have already been sent are: Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital, Kishoreganj, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, Gazipur, MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Sheikh Abu Naser Specialized Hospital, Khulna, 250-Bed General Hospital in Chattogram, Tangail, Gopalganj, Manikganj, and Jamalpur and 100-Bed Children Hospital, Rangpur.
MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital currently has a liquid oxygen tank with a capacity of 10 kilo litres, which will be increased to 20 kilo litres.
The 13 other hospital, whose proposal will be sent today, are: 250-Bed General Hospital in Munshiganj, Habiganj, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Sherpur, Bagerhat, Borguna, Chuadanga, Bhola, Magura, Nilphamari, 250-Bed Bongomata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital in Sirajganj and Government Employee Hospital in Dhaka.
Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary (administration) of health ministry, said although he was not clearly aware of the development but if the proposals were made, they would get quick approvals.
He said due to the crisis, they will allow some work to start after giving verbal approval.
Contacted, Maklesur Rahman Ripon, deputy general manager of Spectra Oxygen Ltd, said although they got a verbal work order instead of a formal one, they had started work considering the ongoing crisis.
He said they have all the equipment available in Bangladesh and once they got approval, which they hope to get within a day or two, they were hopeful about completing the installations at these 11 hospitals within this month.
The Daily Star could not reach Linde Bangladesh.
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