Karachi: The prices of liquid oxygen cylinders needed by patients in Karachi, especially those suffering from Covid-19, have risen sharply over the past few weeks, while hospitals, especially those in the interior of Sindh, are now facing supply shortages.
Fifteen more Covid-19 patients died overnight on Tuesday night, while 703 new cases were reported in the province.
Sources told Dawn that the lack of government oversight encouraged oxygen companies to create a “fake gas shortage” and increase market prices.
They said the apathy of the oxygen supplier was highlighted recently in a letter to the health minister from the medical director of the Hyderabad/Jamshor Lolia Carter University Hospital.
The hospital buys oxygen through local suppliers who get it from four companies in Karachi.
According to the letter dated September 3, the supplier has informed the hospital management that the Karachi-based company is reluctant to supply liquid oxygen to the hospital because they are interested in selling the liquid oxygen to Gardani’s company.
“We are facing a worrying situation as hospitals are reluctant to supply oxygen to hospitals,” the letter said, noting that a lack of oxygen supply could lead to hundreds of deaths at the Liaquat University of Medicine and Health Sciences facility.
The facilities include five highly dependent Covid-19 wards and intensive care units in Hyderabad and James Shore with a capacity of 106 patients, in addition to a conventional intensive care unit capable of treating 34 patients, all dependent on oxygen supply .
A liquid oxygen cylinder costing Rs 900 is now priced at Rs 1,500 in the Karachi market, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) in a press release called on the Sindh government to ensure the supply of oxygen at “regulated prices”.
“While the Covid-19 situation has improved as the patient burden in hospitals has eased, the situation can change at any time. Oxygen therapy is very important for the treatment of Covid-19 and other patients. The PMA asks the government to ensure that hospitals are provided with reasonable prices. Sufficient supply of liquid oxygen,” the statement said.
Oxygen is used in many industries, including metal refining, manufacturing processes, glass making, and chemicals.The country’s total oxygen production is about 750 metric tons.
However, the federal government has pledged to divert most of the oxygen supply to the health sector in case demand increases.
Currently, more than 500 metric tons of oxygen are flowing to the health sector, compared with 250 metric tons consumed a month ago.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said in a statement that 15 more Covid-19 patients lost their lives, bringing the death toll in the province to 7,192.
He added that 599 patients were said to be in critical condition, 49 of whom were transferred to ventilators.
Post time: Feb-10-2022