Tamil Nadu spends Rs 30 crore on medical oxygen

Dr R Narayana Babu, director of Medical Education, Tamil Nadu 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. The surge is due to the pandemic where more patients are needing oxygen support.

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.

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."

Dr R Narayana Babu, director of Medical Education

"We have similarly converted the storage containers to an enhanced capacity in all medical college hospitals. Containers with a capacity of 394 kiloliters are currently in use in Government Medical College Hospitals. Steps are being taken to further increase this capacity to 555 kiloliters. Similarly, the artificial respirator has 8000 B, D type cylinders required for oxygen supply," he said.

The Director also said that 64,000 finger pulse oximeters are being used for measuring oxygen levels for which the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, Chennai has nurses specifically to administer oxygen and pills to monitor the patient.

The government is undertaking hectic measures to keep corona infection under control and to minimise the resultant casualties in Tamil Nadu. However, it becomes difficult to treat patients with comorbidity and those who do not come to the hospital immediately after testing positive.

People in the state often resort to self-medication and rush to clinics only after the severity of the infection has increased.

Tamil Nadu recorded 5519 positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the state tally to 4,91,571. The state recorded 77 deaths, putting the state toll at 8231.