Several Delhi hospitals have complained of an acute shortage of medical oxygen and that suppliers are not delivering on time. (Photo: PTI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday Notices to all suppliers of medical oxygen Ask them to show up before it tomorrow. The court asked them to take details of the oxygen they supplied to various hospitals in Delhi.
The Supreme Court also asked the Delhi government to adjust the oxygen distribution for hospitals to meet the needs of patients who are recovering at home but need oxygen.
The court heard a request from a Covid-19 patient who claimed he had been discharged from a hospital but was in dire need of a hospital bed.
People who are relaxing at home also need oxygen
During the hearing, the court-appointed amicus curiae raised the issue of people receiving home care who need oxygen. “They are being denied oxygen because they prefer hospitals,” the court was informed.
In response, the Delhi government said it is exploring solutions to make it easier for patients who are recovering at home to have access to oxygen.
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“Maybe we can set up two separate lines at the oxygen station, one for individuals and one for nursing homes and hospitals,” the government said.
It added that it has already allocated all of the 490 tons of oxygen available today and could have thought of setting up distribution centers for individuals if somehow it could get 15 to 20 tons immediately.
The government said there are many standalone clinics that also require oxygen aside from individual needs. “We would have to derive oxygen for them from the quota for hospitals,” the government told the court.
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Catch 22 situation
When the court heard the arguments, it said that it appears that the oxygen quota for hospitals will need to be reduced for some time to meet the needs of those who are recovering at home but need oxygen.
“It’s a catch 22 situation. Somebody has to lose so someone else can get oxygen,” the government said.
Seth Air, an oxygen refiller, appeared in court and said hospitals are threatening them with legal action for being unable to provide them with oxygen.
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The lawyer at the Batra Hospital in Delhi told the court that they had been allocated 4.9 tons but were not given it.
“INOX delivered to us but Goyal refused to deliver. Today INOX gave us 2.3 tons and now they refused to deliver more oxygen. We sent our representatives to personally ask the oxygen suppliers, but they did.” don’t listen to anyone. We’ll end up in a critical situation. We only have 2-3 hours of oxygen, “argued the Batra Hospital attorney.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Supreme Court asked the central government why various states including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were being given more oxygen than they needed, but Delhi was not even receiving the amount needed to treat Covid-19 patients .
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