In Rohtak, patients ‘forced’ to arrange Oxygen cylinders on their own

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 5

Patients admitted to the local private hospitals with low oxygen saturation are allegedly being compelled to arrange cylinders and concentrators themselves to deal with any emergency situation.

The trend emerged after the hospitals started expressing their helplessness in treating the admitted patients, citing oxygen shortage. Some of the hospitals also caution the patients in advance that they would not be responsible for any loss due to the non-availability of oxygen.

“Keeping in view the acute shortage of oxygen in hospitals, we have bought a concentrator for Rs 1 lakh. Our patient is undergoing treatment for the past two days and he hasn’t used the concentrator as oxygen is available in the hospital, but we can’t take risk as the situation can turn grim any time,” said a lady attendant at a private hospital in Rohtak city.

Attendant of another patient said he had already arranged an oxygen cylinder as the hospital authorities created a panic two days ago by announcing that their stock was limited and it would last just for an hour. “Hence, the attendant of every patient was requested to make efforts on their level to get the oxygen cylinders.”

“Though the oxygen reached the hospital after an hour, we had to arrange a cylinder with the help of an influential person so that it could be used in any emergency situation,” he added.

Parveen Tondwal, a social activist, said “Our team has been serving the patients for the past several years. However, for the first time, I have seen patients bringing their own oxygen concentrator and cylinder despite being admitted in the hospital as the system has utterly failed to fulfil the basic need.”