At least 13 patients died at the Government Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night in Tamil Nadu in 24 hours, with families alleging shortage of oxygen. The charges have been strongly denied by the hospital officials and said the hospital has sufficient stock, however, an inquiry has been ordered into the cause of death.
The death of the 13, aged 40 to 85, in quick succession at the government hospital was not due to the lack of lifesaving medical oxygen, top officials claimed.
"As per initial reports, the hospital has sufficient stock of oxygen. It is not an oxygen supply issue. Only an inquiry would reveal as to the cause of death," said J. Radhakrishnan, Health Secretary.
He pointed out there are several other patients who were on oxygen supply and they were not affected.
Chengalpattu district collector A John Louis, who reviewed the situation on Tuesday night, denied that the deaths were due to oxygen shortage. "I was there at the field the whole night monitoring the situation. Oxygen supply (for the patients) was not interrupted," Louis told reporters on Wednesday.
An enquiry will be taken up into the matter by the director of medical education into "technical issues”, said Louis.
Hospital Dean Dr J Muthukumaran informed that among the deceased, only one patient was Covid positive while others tested negative but had viral pneumonia and comorbidities.
"While six had comorbidities, seven patients who came in with complications also died within 24 hours, as they didn’t respond to treatment," he told the reporters.
The staff on duty had noticed oxygen levels dropping in some patients and immediately took action to stabilise their condition, he said, "We are thankful to the district collector who responded to our plea for replenishment of oxygen supplies last night and immediately arranged for a tanker of oxygen," he added.
Informing that the hospital has three days of oxygen stock, the Dean stated that the higher officials have assured more supplies soon and added that the hospital authorities and district collector are constantly monitoring the situation amid the increase in cases.
A Couple of days ago at the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital, relatives of patients alleged the deaths of six patients were due to disruption in the supply of oxygen.
According to the official, work on the hospital's oxygen plant was underway and the relatives of the Covid-19 patients who died alleged that the death was due to disruption in oxygen supply.
"There are over 150 patients in the hospital's Covid-19 ward. Supply of oxygen to several patients did not get disrupted," the official added.
An inquiry by the Director of Medical Education has been ordered in the case of Government Vellore Medical College Hospital.