Oxygen audit committee conducts surprise check in 3 private hospitals today

Ludhiana:
In the wake of a sharp increase in the use of oxygen for the Covid patients in the hospitals, the oxygen audit committee for constant monitoring the consumption of life-saving gas in the district today conducted surprise checks in the premises of 3 private hospitals of the district. The hospitals checked today included Arora Neuro Centre Ludhiana, Sidhu Hospital Doraha and Kular Hospital Khanna.

It is pertinent to mention that Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma had formed an 11-member committee headed by AETC-2 Damanjeet Singh Mann and a representative of Commissioner of Police, SSP Khanna and SSP Ludhiana Rural, Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Mohinder Singh, District Family and Welfare Officer Dr SP Singh, GM District Industries Centre, Zonal Drug Licensing Authority Dr Kulwinder Singh, Anaesthetic Dr Sheenu Gupta, Drug Inspectors Roop Preet Kaur, Sandeep Kaushik, Amit Lakhan Pal and Lajwinder Kaur would be its members. 

Nodal Officer Damanjit Singh Mann informed that the committee has been formed to review the consumption and balance stock of the oxygen by the hospitals/other health institutions. Further, it will ensure that the use of oxygen for the management of serious Covid-19 patients is rational and per prescribed treatment protocols. 

The committee will have to submit its report to the Deputy Commissioner daily about its functioning and will also ensure the oxygen must not be used for the industrial purpose at any cost and take action in case of the violation. 

Damanjit Singh Mann informed that during the surprise check at 3 hospitals, the managements were educated about ways to reduce wastage of oxygen. He said that an online training of all private hospitals was also organised, in which the doctors were educated about it. He said that all the hospitals of district Ludhiana have been warned not to waste or hoard oxygen, else strict action would be taken against them.

He informed that the committee would conduct surprise checks of all hospitals on daily basis.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said that with the sudden surge of serious Covid cases, the oxygen demand has also been increasing unprecedentedly as it is vital for the treatment of level-3 patients so it was necessary that the stocks of oxygen and its consumption, is closely rationalised. Further, he asked the hospitals to use oxygen only for the serious/critical patients to ensure rational use of this gas. 

Deputy Commissioner also warned the hoarders of the oxygen and warned severest of severe action if anyone would be found involved in profiteering. 

Amid the report of some hospitals were still doing elective surgeries despite prohibited, Deputy Commissioner has already set up another committee under the supervision of DMC Dr Mohinder Singh, Medical Officer Dr Milan and District Leprosy Officer Dr Gurtajinder Kaur for physical inspection of the hospitals and take strict action those not following the orders.

In separate order, he said that another team led by ZLA Dr Kulwinder Singh has been set up to take strict action against those involved in black marketing of the Remdesivir.