SVIMS Covid patients at risk as O2 supply shrinks

TIRUPATI: In the wake of curbs imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on supply of oxygen to other states to meet acute shortage in the state, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati stares at a grim situation. Hitherto, it was getting assured supply from TN.

Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women and Hospital attached to SVIMS in Tirupati, which has been designated as a Covid-19 hospital, has 145 ICU, 328 oxygen beds and 49 ventilators for Covid care. For the supply of oxygen to Covid patients, the hospital uses one of the two 11KL capacity oxygen tankers located on its premises. Apart from this, it also has 220 bulk oxygen cylinders in stock.      

SVIMS has an oxygen-supply arrangement with TN-based Airwater company, which used to supply nearly 24 KL oxygen every week in three trips in the pre-Covid days. As fresh Coronavirus infections continued to surge, the supply was hiked and SVIMS was receiving nearly 13 KL of oxygen every day in two trips – 8KL and 5KL – for the past few weeks from the same vendor.

The vendor has, however, reportedly taken a U-turn now, expressing his inability to honour the old arrangement in view of the latest curbs imposed by TN government. The unfortunate development sent the SVIMS management into a huddle and they have taken up the issue to the notice of Chittoor District Collector M. Hari Narayanan as well as the State Covid-19 Command Control.

Confirming the development with media, SVIMS Director Dr B. Vengamma expressed concerns that nearly 90-95 per cent of 575-600 Covid-19 patients currently being treated at the hospital were all oxygen-dependent. “The vendor stated that he is able to supply only 8KL of oxygen per day due to the new curbs. But we are in need of 12-13 KL of oxygen every day as 90-95 per cent of the patients are depending on oxygen,” she said.

Maintaining that they have taken the issue to the notice of Collector and Covid Command Control, the SVIMS Director expressed hope that AP government would come to the rescue of the hospital and arrange adequate quantities of oxygen supply.

Meanwhile, Collector Hari Narayanan informed that there was no shortage of oxygen in SVIMS and other government Covid hospitals. “People need not panic by listening to rumours. There has been a real-time monitoring on supply, use and requirement of oxygen at the State Covid Hospital attached to SVIMS, SVRRGGH and the District hospital. With the support of police, oxygen is being supplied to all hospitals through green channels from refilling centres,” he added.