Private hospitals in Hyderabad on Tuesday raised the concern that they were facing scarcity of supplemental oxygen as the city’s health-care has reached a saturation point with sudden spike in Covid-19 cases, a senior government official said in a meeting with the hospital representatives.
They stated there has been a sudden rise in the demand and the manufacturer has stopped taking orders due to the load, thereby causing shortage in the market.
Currently in Telangana, the cost of 10 litres oxygen cylinder has shoot up unduly from Rs 9,400 to 25,000 and 47.2 litres oxygen cylinder rose to Rs 35,000 from Rs 14,000. This increase in the price has caused financially distress in the patients. The refilling cost per cubic metre of the cylinder has also increased from 10 to 100 per cubic metre which amounts to 1000 per cylinder.
For rising Covid-19 cases, the state would need at least 250 tonnes of medical oxygen supply daily but dealers are able to fetch only 140 tonnes. Telangana Health Minister, Eatala Rajender, stated that currently state needs 250 tonnes of oxygen per day but as the cases are increasing the requirement can anytime shoot up to 350 tonnes.
Etala also insisted the hospitals to use oxygen carefully for patients and suggested cutting down oxygen supply for industrial needs so they can be facilitated to hospitals in these grave circumstances.