Ventilators lying unused in Barnala hospital as cases rise

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, August 31

Despite a surge in Covid-19 cases, Barnala district does not have even a single functional ventilator in any government hospital while three ventilators are lying unused as renovation of the Civil Hospital is going on. TPS Phoolka, DC, has directed the Health Department to accelerate the renovation process so as to make the ventilators available to patients at the earliest.

Some officials confirmed that the hospital had got three ventilators two months ago. While one was provided by SAD (Democratic) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, remaining two were given by the state government. However, with the renovation of two rooms in the hospital going on, these are yet to be installed.

Sad writes to Health Minister

More than five months after the outbreak, the government has not started using even a single ventilator at the Civil Hospital. On Monday, we wrote to the Health Minister regarding it. —Gurjinder Singh Sidhu, President, Sainik Wing, SAD

“I directed the Health Department today to complete the renovation of the rooms at the earliest,” the DC said.

In Barnala, 20 residents have died of Covid till date while there are 476 active cases.

Civil Surgeon Dr GB Singh confirmed that ventilators were lying unused. “To start using ventilators, we need trained staff and other infrastructure. We are working to start the facility at the earliest,” he said.