Bracing for swine flu,RML finds 255 oxygen cylinders missing

According to hospital authorities,the administration discovered the missing oxygen cylinders while readying the hospital for H1N1 influenza patients in April.

Care for H1N1 influenza patients includes the use of ventilators,which require oxygen cylinders. The hospital administration realised that Type-D cylinders used in ventilators were missing in bulk while putting the infrastructure in place,a senior RML official said.

“H1N1 influenza is a respiratory illness,” the official said,“and this lapse was found while checking all aspects that might be required to treat H1N1 influenza patients.”

RML Medical Superintendent Dr N K Chaturvedi formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter in April.

“The inquiry is over (though) a few areas need to be investigated (still),” Dr Chaturvedi said. “We are considering filing an FIR since the matter is serious and needs to be taken to its logical conclusion.”

As per rules,hospitals storing oxygen cylinders require licence from the government. Insiders said the missing cylinders were re-sold to private nursing homes.

According to sources,the three-member committee has zeroed in on a few suspects after its internal inquiry.

They said senior doctors in the anaesthesia department,including the department head,have been questioned by the committee. Purchase and storage officers have also been questioned.

A staff technician in the room where the oxygen cylinders were stored,has already been suspended.