DGHS Fears of Oxygen Crisis

The hike in coronavirus infection in the country could lead to an oxygen crisis. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is already preparing to deal with the crisis and has already begun liaising with various industries and oxygen suppliers.

On Monday (June 28) at noon in the regular bulletin of DGHS about the situation of Coronavirus infection, the spokesperson of the department and the line director of the National Disease Control Center, Dr Md Robed Amin made the remarks.

He said that with the amount of oxygen produced in the country, it is now possible to meet the demand for oxygen. However, if the Covid-19 patient increases, an oxygen crisis may occur.

Dr Amin said the oxygen crisis in neighboring India had intensified as coronavirus infections were on the rise. Many patients died due to the lack of oxygen. The government is already on high alert to prevent such a situation in the country.

He said the demand for oxygen across the country is around 120 to 150 tonnes. However, if the infection increases, the demand for oxygen will also increase. As we have seen, the daily demand was about 190 tons in April, when Covid-19 infection was its pick.

Dr Amin said the oxygen plants in our country were ready to deal with any crisis. Among the companies that produce and supply oxygen, only the Linde and Islam Oxygen provide medical oxygen to the government hospitals. It is possible to meet our needs with them. However, due to the growing demand for transmission, we are also in contact with other companies that produce oxygen for the industry.

He said Abul Khair's group has been contacted. In addition, several steel companies produce oxygen for industrial plants. The DGHS is also in touch with them. Abul Khair's group is coming forward due to the initiative of the Director General of DGHS. If the coronavirus infection increases, it will be possible to meet the oxygen demand of the country with their oxygen.

As the coronavirus infection has started to increase across the country. If it continues like this ordinary beds will not be available in the coronavirus dedicated hospitals soon, said Dr. Robed Amin.

He said the number of infections has multiplied compared to last month. We see a chunk of patients with coronavirus symptoms in hospitals again. The number of beds in hospitals is rapidly filling up. ICUs of several hospitals in the capital have been filled. The ICU of the private hospital is also being filled. Only 261 beds are vacant.

He said the death toll was higher in the India bordering districts where the infection was more prevalent.