Mumbai: Bhagwati hospital’s struggle for oxygen may not end entirely

An ambulance transfers COVID-19 patients of Shri Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital in Borivli to other medical facilities, on April 16. Pic/Satej Shinde

The oxygen trouble continues to keep the administration at Bhagwati hospital on their toes. On Sunday, the hospital was preparing to shift some of its COVID-19 patients to other medical facilities as it was running out of the life-saving gas. But, help came in time.

Oxygen cylinders being loaded and refiled at a private gas company in Mahalaxmi on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The Borivli hospital was one of the first medical facilities scrambling for oxygen about 10 days back. It had moved close to 44 patients to hospitals that had oxygen. Despite having to frequently deal with shortage of oxygen, Bhagwati hospital won't get an oxygen plant like 12 other civic hospitals in the city.

‘O2 was low on Sunday too'

According to a local Shiv Sena leader, the hospital had planned to shift 20-odd COVID-19 patients to facilities with ample oxygen supply as its stock was running low. If it's stock wasn't replenished by Sunday night, the patients could have faced problems the next morning.

Even the Jogeshwari trauma care centre were in a panic mode for a few hours on Sunday and were preparing for the transfer of some of the patients. However, by late evening, civic officials provided oxygen to the centre. A civic official, requesting anonymity, said, "The two hospitals had limited stock of medical oxygen, so we immediately arranged a few cylinders for them. Later, we were informed that they will also get their refilled oxygen cylinders by the end of Sunday, thus averting a crisis."

‘There is no shortage of O2'

BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said there was no shortage of oxygen and supply was normal.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be sending Dura cylinders to these two hospitals. But it won't set up an oxygen plant at Bhagwati hospital because the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has denied permission owing to lack of space, said sources.

Rajul Patel, chairman of the BMC health committee, said, "One of the few conditions of the PESO is to have at least 4,000 square feet of open area around the oxygen plant for refilling, as a safety precaution. As Bhagwati hospital doesn't have that kind of space, it will have to manage with cylinders and wait for the refills."

Jumbo centre to come up near BPCL refinery

A jumbo centre is slated to come up in Mumbai near the BPCL refinery at Mahul as the Centre has approved the state government's request for the same. Fomer CM and Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis tweeted about this. The BPCL has agreed to provide oxygen if the compressors are provided by the state government. He tweeted, "One more Huge Help! Thank you Hon PM Narendra Modiji & Union Minister @dpradhanbjp ji for quick approval to set up a Jumbo Covid Centre near BPCL Refinery @ Mumbai on MaharashtraGovt's request. BPCL Limited has agreed to provide uninterrupted supply of oxygen through their plant. Thousands of oxygenated beds will be made available here to treat COVID-19 patients. Arun Singh, Director Marketing BPCL also informed me during telephonic conversation that they are ready to fill oxygen cylinders for GoM if they make available compressor facilities for the same." But, the BMC seems to be unaware of this. BJP sources said it was a request by the state government and not the civic body.