The government has brushed aside media reports that claim inadequate oxygen supply at public hospitals was endangering Covid-19 patients.
In an online bulletin on Saturday, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Additional Director General (Admin) Nasima Sultana said there was no such oxygen shortage in the country.
The media reports were published using “old and incomplete information,” she added.
“There is no shortage of oxygen at hospitals or isolation units dedicated for treating coronavirus patients,” according to the DGHS additional director general.
“There are as many as 10,394 oxygen cylinders in all upazilas across the country. Other than at medical colleges and specialized hospitals, there are 13,745 cylinders in eight divisions,” she said.
She also gave estimates of the oxygen supply to Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital—both in Dhaka.
Kurmitola General Hospital has 450 oxygen cylinders, although there is no system to supply oxygen there centrally. On the other hand, the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital has 120 oxygen cylinders and 12 manifold oxygen cylinders.
In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the government has taken measures to procure another 3,050 oxygen cylinders, which will reach the country soon.
“Furthermore, the cylinders that have become empty are going to be refilled with oxygen as well,” the DGHS official said.
Dhaka Tribune on April 23 reported that a lack of oxygen supply at public hospitals would pose challenges for Bangladesh in battling the coronavirus pandemic.
On April 20, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said a survey of the oxygen supply status in public hospitals of Bangladesh showed that there is a shortage in the country, considering that 20% of hospital beds are dedicated for Covid-19 management at the district and upazila levels.
“Challenges to increasing oxygen supply include refilling time, cylinders for transportation, logistics of delivering from hospitals to refilling centres, and funds,” the WHO said.
Most people with Covid-19 develop only a mild infection and do not always require hospitalization. However, approximately 20% of them will need medical oxygen support to recover, according to WHO estimates.
Data compiled by the DGHS shows that 3,302 oxygen cylinders were distributed for Covid-19 management across the country, and one-third of these cylinders had already been used as of April 23.
Public hospitals – Sadar hospitals, medical college hospitals, and upazila health complexes – have so far used 1,195 oxygen cylinders, keeping only 2,107 in reserve for patients in need, according to the data.
