In a distressing news regarding COVID-19 deaths, 26 COVID-19 patients died at a state-run hospital in Goa. After the death, Health Minister called for probe as to what may have caused so many deaths. The news comes after it was reported that Goa confirmed an anti-parasitic drug called Ivermectin for all treatment of all the adults.

Also read: COVID-19 news: 80 doctors from Delhi’s Saroj Hospital test positive, 1 senior surgeon dies

Background

As the nation once again broke the 4-lakh new COVID-19 cases mark, an alarming incident was reported from the state of Goa. A state-run goa hospital lost 26 of its COVID-19 patients within a span of few hours. This has made the state’s Health Minister initiate a probe into the matter. On Monday, May 10, Goa reported 2,804 new COVID-19 cases which took the overall number to 1,21,650.

Details

A high-court investigation has been called by Goa’s health minister to ascertain what led to the demise of as many as 26 COVID-19 patients at the state’s Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). According to Vishwajit Rane, Goa Health Minister, all the deaths occurred within the span of 4 hours: 2 AM-6 AM. The minister stated how the time span was a fact but didn’t state as to what could be the reason for such quick deaths.

Pramod Sawant, Goa CM visited the hospital after the incident and told the reporters how a gap between medical oxygen’s availability and its supply to the COVID-19 wards at the hospital may have caused the issue. Although, he also reiterated how the state is not suffering from a lack of oxygen supply.

The health minister of the state also spoke to reporters where he actually admitted that the state-run hospital does have medical oxygen scarcity.

“The high court should investigate the reasons behind these deaths. The high court should also intervene and prepare a white paper on oxygen supply to the GMCH, which would help to set the things right,”

-the state Health Minister Rane.

“If there’s a shortfall in the supply of medical oxygen, the discussion should be held about how to bridge that gap,” he added. He also said how the hospital needed 1,200 cylinders carrying medical oxygen of which only 400 were provided to the state’s facility.

Earlier today, Goa CM was seen wearing a PPE kit when he visited the hospital and took assessment of the hospital by interacting with the doctors, patients and paramedical staff. He said that the issues will be streamlined properly by today. He said that he will be holding a meeting with the medical administrative team to ensure that everyone in the state’s hospitals get the essential facilities.

The Goa CM was also quoted by PTI saying-

“Doctors, who are busy treating patients, cannot spend their time in arranging logistics like oxygen. I will hold a meeting immediately to set up ward-wise mechanisms to ensure that oxygen is supplied to patients in time.”

The minister also admitted that there has been some mismanagement in terms of logistics of oxygen supply and its transportation. He said he will be appointing a person-in-charge who will be given the responsibility of ensuring that hospitals get the oxygen it requires.

“There is some mismanagement to help oxygen reach them, the cylinders have to be taken to the wards, the housekeeping. There needs to be a person in-charge (of oxygen cylinders) for each ward. This cannot be left to nurses. Oxygen is there, but it doesn’t reach the wards/patients. We will streamline the process. We will allocate work properly,”

-he said.

Also read: 25 “sickest patients” at Ganga Ram hospital dies in 24 hours; Lack of oxygen supply presumed