As distress calls pour in from pvt hospitals, PCMC steps help Covid facilities

“The problem arose as the demand for oxygen is more than the supply now with increased patients on oxygen support. We have been coordinating with the district administration and FDA officials to resolve the problem. We have succeeded in bringing things under control,” he said, adding that some PCMC officials will be in constant touch with the district administration over supply of oxygen to hospitals in the industrial city.

Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao, District Collector Rajesh Patil and FDA Joint Commissioner S B Patil are helping the PCMC administration in getting adequate stock oxygen from various manufacturers and distributors. The Commissioner said civic officials have been told to inform well in advance about the requirement of medical oxygen by hospitals. “We are doing advance planning so that we can convey our requirements on daily basis to the district and the FDA administrations,” he said.

The PCMC has also set up an oxygen monitoring committee, headed by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Smita Zagade, to ensure smooth supply of oxygen to all hospitals. PCMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane said all five PCMC hospitals are now getting their adequate stock of oxygen daily, but some of the private hospitals are still facing the problem.

“We get at least 10-15 distress calls from private hospitals regarding shortage of oxygen they are facing. We are providing them oxygen cylinders from the reserved stock pending with civic hospitals. Also, we are helping them procure oxygen from different sources,” he added.

Stating that the problem of oxygen supply to hospitals in Pimpri-Chinchwad has been sorted out to a great extent, Dhakane said, “We have also set up a 24X7 control in our war room for private hospitals. We have also provided a helpline number. The control room will monitor oxygen supply and distribution.”

Dr Kiran Thorat of Care Lifeline, Kalewadi, said, “We have been facing serious problem of oxygen shortage for past three-four days. Two of my patients were in danger of losing lives because of oxygen shortage. But the problem has eased as the PCMC has provided us seven cylinders yesterday. We will get 16 more today.”

Dr Amol Holkunde, who heads the PCMC-run Auto Cluster facility, said, “We need five tonnes of oxygen. We have been promised 10 tonnes of oxygen every alternate day. We get the promised stock and will have no shortage. We have been told to update PCMC officials on hourly basis.”

Dr Sunil Pawar, controlling officer of the PCMC at 816-bed Nwhrunagar jumbo hospital, said, “The hospital needs 20-22 tonnes of oxygen supply every day. As of now, we are getting the required supply but we have to make extra efforts to get the tankers at the right place and time. There is danger of tankers being diverted elsewhere; therefore, we are keeping a close watch on them.”

The PCMC administration has appointed escort teams to keep a watch on tankers providing oxygen cylinders. Civic officials said PCMC hospitals every day need around 45-50 tonnes of oxygen for its five hospitals.