Chennai:The State Health Department has so far spent nearly Rs 30 crore in procuring medical oxygen for supply to hospitals tending COVID-19 patients who require oxygen support.
Dr R Narayana Babu, director of Medical Education, said from April to July more than Rs 30 crore has been spent on the purchase of medical oxygen, whereas last year only Rs 18 crore was spent throughout.
In an interview with ETV Bharat, Dr Babu claimed that none have lost life in Tamil Nadu due to the shortage of oxygen supply and that the government has developed large storage facilities to save the oxygen needed for artificial respiration in government medical college hospitals.
"The number of people admitted in the hospital with corona infection has dropped by 10 per cent. In Chennai, in particular, it has decreased to a big extent. Similarly, the number of deaths due to ineffective treatment has dropped by about 40 per cent," Dr Babu said.
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Elaborating how the health department has increased the storage limit of oxygen cylinders from 20 kiloliters to 60 kiloliters he said, "In March, there were containers with a storing capacity of 223 kiloliters. At the Chennai Medical College Hospital, we have converted the oxygen cylinder with a capacity to hold 20 kiloliters to 60 kiloliters at present."