With the number of Covid-19 cases increasing sharply in the country, the government is going to set up centralised oxygen supply system in 51 more public hospitals to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to patients.

According to experts, uninterrupted oxygen supply in hospitals is a very crucial component in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and it can save many lives.

Officials said the authorities are now installing liquid oxygen tanks in 23 public hospitals. Besides, the health ministry last week ordered the Health Engineering Department (HED) to install central gas pipeline and liquid oxygen tanks in 21 more public hospitals.

Centralised oxygen supply system would be set up in 30 more public hospitals under a project funded by World Bank and the plan is now awaiting approval, the officials added.

A total of 22 public hospitals had centralised oxygen supply system before the Covid-19 hit the country in March. The system was installed in five more hospitals after the pandemic started.

Once all the ongoing works are completed, a total of 101 public hospitals would have centralised oxygen supply system, officials said.

Earlier last month, a health ministry document painted a grim picture of centralised oxygen supply in public hospitals.

In a letter to the National Electro-Medical Equipment Maintenance Workshop and Training Centre (NEMEMW and TC) on June 2, the health ministry said most of the 39 major public hospitals, including those dedicated to treating novel coronavirus patients, still do not have a nonstop supply of oxygen which is essential for treatment of critical Covid-19 patients.

These hospitals, constructed by the Public Works Department, have medical gas pipeline system, but most of them lack centralised oxygen supply supported by liquid tanks.

So, they rely on inter-connected oxygen cylinders. As a result, it is not possible for them to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to critical Covid-19 patients who suffer from severe respiratory problems, health officials said.

The ministry asked NEMEMW and TC to ensure liquid oxygen tanks in those of the 39 major public hospitals which do not have it on an urgent basis to activate a centralised oxygen supply system.
WORKS ON AT 23 HOSPITALS

Following the health ministry's directives, NEMEMW and TC, through its contractors, has already set up liquid oxygen tanks in three hospitals and patients of those are getting benefit of it, said Aminur Rahman, chief technical manager of NEMEMW and TC.

The three hospitals are Kuwait-Bangladesh Maitree Government Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital.

Besides, works for installing liquid oxygen tanks in 23 more public hospitals started last month and those are likely to be completed within this month, he said.

The hospitals are Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital in Kishoreganj, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Gazipur, MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet, Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in Khulna, 250-bed general hospitals in Chattogram, Tangail, Gopalganj, Manikganj, Jamalpur, Munshiganj, Habiganj, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Sherpur, Bagerhat, Barguna, Chuadanga, Bhola, Magura, and Nilphamari, 100-bed Children Hospital in Rangpur, and Government Employee Hospital in Dhaka.

MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital has currently a liquid oxygen tank with a capacity of 10 kilolitres, which will be increased to 20 kilolitres.
WORKS FOR 21 MORE TO START SOON

The health ministry on July 1 directed the Health Engineering Department (HED) to install central oxygen line and liquid oxygen tank in 23 public hospitals by following the Direct Procurement Method.

However, the HED will install the system in 21 hospitals as works for two others have already been started by other government agencies, Abdul Hamid, superintendent engineer (electrical) of HED, told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We have already started works in two hospitals in Narayanganj and Cumilla. We hope we will be able to complete installation of centralised oxygen supply system in seven hospitals before the Eid-ul-Azha," Hamid said.

Works in other hospitals will also start before the Eid, likely to be celebrated on July 1, but it would take some more time, he added.

Hamid said setting up a centralised oxygen supply system costs around Tk 3.25 crore for each 100-bed hospital. The cost is Tk 4.25 crore for each 250-bed hospital.
WB TO FINANCE 30 MORE HOSPITALS

Meanwhile, centralised oxygen supply system would be installed in 30 more public hospitals under the Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project funded by World Bank, health ministry officials said.

"Unicef will implement the project and the procurement process in this regard is underway," a health ministry official said wishing not to be named.