New Delhi: Delhi hospitals are facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases in the national capital.
As per reports, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is left with only five hours of oxygen where at least 58 COVID patients are admitted, out of which 10 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Also, as many as 35 patients are awaiting admission to the hospital.
Meanwhile, With 300 COVID patients, St. Stephen's Hospital is left with only 2 hours of oxygen.
"Oxygen supplier Linde India has stopped our supply," said an official from the hospital.
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital's Managing Director P Shivakumar also reiterated the urgent need for oxygen for COVID-19 patients admitted to his hospital's ICU, warning they could be in jeopardy if fresh supplies were not provided urgently.
"The situation is quite grim. We have supplies that will probably take us till midnight today. If we don't get replenishment on time there can be a serious crisis," he added.
Meanwhile, addressing a press briefing, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urged the Centre to increase the quota of oxygen.
He said that only the Centre has the right to decide the quota of oxygen for each state.
"There has been a sudden spike in the demand for oxygen in Delhi due to an exponential rise in the number of patients from Delhi as well as from neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan among others,” he added.
Pointing out the severe need for more oxygen, Sisodia requested the Centre to increase the 370 Metric Tonnes (MT) quota to 700 MT.
It may be noted here that the national capital reported its highest COVID-19 figures of 277 deaths and over more than 28,000 cases on Tuesday.
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