Sujangarh: Five ventilators worth Rs 1.25 crores are locked in government hospital

Amid the rising cases of Covid-19 in Rajasthan, the Government Bagariya Hospital in Sujangarh has five ventilators worth Rs. 1.25 crores locked in a room along with a non-functioning ICU.

Sujangarh: Amid the rising cases of Covid-19 in Rajasthan, the Government Bagariya Hospital in Sujangarh has five ventilators worth Rs. 1.25 crores locked away in a room along with a non-functioning ICU.

A year ago, Rajasthan's Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, late Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal realised the need for an ICU, ventilators and uninterrupted oxygen supply in the hospital.

The government approved a dedicated pipeline for oxygen, an ICU room, five ventilators and an uninterrupted oxygen supply to each bed.

Dr Banarsi Meghwal, the daughter of Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal, laid the foundation stone on 11 July 2020. Within nine months the hospital completed the installation of the pipeline for oxygen supply.

Five ventilators worth Rs 1.25 crore were also procured by the government. However, there is no trained staff to run the ventilators and therefore is kept in a locked room for safety.

The hospital also has an ICU ward but it's not functional. According to the hospital's Project Management Officer, Dr Suresh Kalani, the hospital has made a plan and budget for the ICU facility and is now waiting for the Rajasthan government's response. On the question of oxygen availability, he further added there is no shortage of oxygen in the hospital.

Government Bagariya Hospital benefits lakhs of people from the nearby villages of Sujangarh, Ladnun, and Bidasar. However, locked ventilators and a non-functioning ICU is a serious cause of concern for the people of the area.