Only Punjab reported four deaths due to oxygen shortage: Union Health minister

New Delhi, December 3

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday told the Lok Sabha that only Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh had responded to the Centre’s emails asking for data on deaths of Covid-19 patients due to shortage of oxygen during the second wave.

“The Centre sought data from the states and the UTs regarding deaths of Covid-19 patients due to oxygen shortage across the country during the second wave of the pandemic. Request for data on the subject was emailed several times and the last email was sent on November 29. In response, only two states —Punjab and Arunachal — responded,” he said.

Punjab emailed that four suspected deaths had occurred due to lack of oxygen at a private hospital in Amritsar.

Mandaviya told the House that only 19 states had responded to the ministry’s emails and out of them only Punjab shared the figure on deaths and added that even these were being investigated. He said 22 crore doses of Covid shots were lying unused with the states. Asking the MPs not to ‘play politics on health’, he said, “If all the MPs ensure 100 per cent vaccination in their segments, the entire India will be vaccinated.” — TNS