We are expecting first batch today: Officials
Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, Apr15: Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to receive the fresh consignment of 400 ventilators to meet any emergency that may arise due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
A top official told Kashmir Indepth News Service that J&K government is all set to receive its first consignment of 400 ventilators. “The new consignment will help the J&K government to overcome the shortage of ventilators in COVID-19 designated hospitals in J&K,” he added.
One of the officials here in Medical college Srinagar said that they are expecting first batch of ventilators to arrive on Thursday.
He said that even though COVID-19 has not taken an ugly turn in J&K, especially in Kashmir where cases are more, but ventilators will remain as a backup for the government to meet any emergency as next two weeks are crucial. “Next two weeks will decide whether the virus has entered into the community,” he added.
As per sources, J&K has only 209 ventilators in the hospitals across J&K, which is too less. Many doctors have expressed concern about shortage of ventilators in Kashmir.
A doctor wrote on his Facebook page: “We have only 200 plus ventilators in Kashmir hospitals which are too less and the number of PPE is also very less. If supplies won’t reach on time, doctors would die in hospitals and there will be none to look after patients.”
Interestingly, NGO Athrout had claimed to have donated some eight portable ventilators to Chest Diseases hospital Dalgate, but according to the NGO all eight were returned by the hospital authorities the next day.
However, the Medical superintendent chest Disease hospital said that the NGO had not approached the hospital authorities.
A senior doctor at SKIMS said that there is obviously a shortfall of ventilators in the Kashmir hospitals. “If pandemic takes an ugly turn it would be difficult for us to handle the patients who need ventilator support? But thank God so far, none of the patients was put on the ventilator in SKIMS,” he said, adding if the supplies of 400 ventilators would reach J&K, that would be an added advantage if situation worsens.
Another doctor at SMHS hospital said 78 per cent patients having Covid-19 infection were asymptomatic and none had a breathing problem to an extent where doctors would have planned ventilator for them in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). “But this doesn’t mean we don’t need more ventilators,” he said.
Sources in the health department said that Kashmir hospitals also face shortage of PPEs and whatever kits are available, they are being used judiciously by the doctors. “There is a global shortage of PPEs. We can’t blame Government of India for this. We have received supply of PPEs and at present doctors are using them very judiciously,” they said. (KINS)
