Coronavirus | U.P. hospitals struggling with oxygen supply

Lives of COVID-19 patients under critical care jeopardised

At least two hospitals, including one for non-COVID-19 patients, in Gorakhpur on Saturday said they were struggling to maintain uninterrupted flow of oxygen supply, jeopardising the lives of those under critical care. Durgawati Hospital in Barhalganj, 60 km from Gorakhpur city, where five patients died in two days, said it had to “slow down” the flow of oxygen for some patients as there was a delay in replenishing oxygen supply. The 110-bed hospital currently has 28 COVID-19 patients. Manoj Yadav, surgeon and owner of Durgawati Hospital, told The Hindu that they had a daily demand for 80 cylinders but the supply was reduced to 50-60 cylinders. The main problem for the hospital was logistical, said Mr. Yadav. Since Barhalganj is 60 km from Gorakhpur, the long lines at the refilling station, long waiting time, under construction highway and slow traffic caused unexpected delays, he said.