Patiala: Short on ‘Fateh’ kits, dept recycles oximeters

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 9

Amid a shortage of ‘Fateh’ kits, health officials have reportedly started asking Covid survivors to return the oximeters provided to them.

Notably, the pulse oximeter is one of many items in the ‘Fateh’ kit, which is being provided to patients under home isolation. The Health Department, owing to the ongoing shortage, is said to be recycling the pulse oximeter.

A Covid survivor said an ANM of the Jujaar Nagar health centre had come to his residence to take the oximeter. He said, “I have already returned the oximeter to the nearest health centre. However, it is not good thing to recycle a medical device that has already been used by a positive patient.”

However, health officials said there was no harm in recycling the equipment. They said they properly sanitised the oximeters before providing them to other patients.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said there was a shortage of the device due to a sudden surge in cases. However, they had now received sufficient kits. “There is no harm in recycling oximeters after sanitisation. We have to recycle whenever there is some delay in procuring kits from the head office in Chandigarh. We try to make sure that everyone gets a pulse oximeter to monitor the oxygen level,” he said.