We have enough, private hospitals have to find their own oxygen: BMC

The Mulund Jumbo COVID Centre currently needs 4,898 cubic metres of liquid medical oxygen daily. File pic

While some districts in the state, some municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are panicking amid a shortage of oxygen, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that it has enough stock and is well prepared for an emergency. However, it added that private hospitals have to procure their own stock.

The Mulund Jumbo COVID centre has tanks that can keep 13,000 litres of liquid oxygen, while Rajawadi hospital's tanks can store 7,000 litres. Representation pic

The kin of many patients has been taking to Twitter and other social media platforms to raise the shortage of oxygen supply and beds. However, the BMC has said that it has over 1,500 oxygen beds lying vacant and that they are well prepared even for an emergency.

The BMC has appointed an agency to provide its hospitals with oxygen and in case there are issues with the agency, there are two other agencies on standby that can easily fulfil the demand to ensure there are no hiccups in treatment.

These points were reiterated by the doctors of the Mulund Jumbo COVID Centre and Rajawadi hospital. The Mulund centre, which houses 1,150 patients, daily needs 4,898 cubic metres of liquid medical oxygen that is stored in two tanks that have a capacity of 13,000 litres. This centre has also kept 98 jumbo cylinders for emergency use.

"Earlier, our oxygen refill had been happening three times in a week, now it's been refilled every alternate day," said Dr. Pradeep Angre, dean of the Mulund centre. "The consumption of oxygen has gone up as the centre is running on full capacity, but there is adequate storage and supply of oxygen" he added.

An important hospital in the eastern suburbs, Rajawadi, currently houses 100 patients. The BMC is in the process of adding 50 beds to the facility. The hospital has two tanks storing liquid oxygen with a capacity of 7,000 litres. "Out of 100 patients, 60 to 70 patients require oxygen and our stock lasts for three to four days. There is no shortage of oxygen in our hospital," she said.

Speaking to mid-day, Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, "We are not facing any shortage of oxygen supply and have enough stock available with us. We are fully prepared and even emergency stock is in abundance. Our focus is on increasing beds and giving proper treatment in time."

When asked about the shortage in private hospitals, he said, "We have not received any major complaints regarding a shortage of oxygen supply in private hospitals so far. Their oxygen supply is coordinated by the Food and Drugs Administration."

Kakani added, "For any issues related to beds or critical patients in need, people should call their local ward war room."

On Monday, civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal also said that ward war rooms have been told to direct COVID patients to jumbo centres for treatment.

"While we have not had any shortage and have adequate supply for oxygen, there is a difficulty in refilling it. We are in touch with authorities to secure future procurement," a representative of KJ Somaiya hospital said.

Sources in Nanavati hospital said that they have enough oxygen for the number of oxygen beds they have. However, in case, for any reason, if the oxygen beds have to be increased, they would have to work things around it.

Emergency stock

The NMMC currently has adequate oxygen stock for patients admitted to its various facilities. NMMC Commissioner Abhijeet Bangar said, "Currently, we have enough oxygen stock for daily use. Apart from this, we have an additional emergency oxygen stock to last 20 days. We have also been told to instal liquid oxygen tanks, which give additional capacity to the facility."

1,500
No of oxygenated beds the BMC claims it has at its disposal