TN govt buys 43,000 pulse oximeters

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy had ordered the purchase of 43,000 Finger Pulse Oximeters to monitor the blood oxygen levels of Coronavirus patients since a sudden drop in oxygen could be fatal, Health Minister C Vijaybaskar said on Sunday.

An extensive use of the oximeter on has been ordered by the Chief Minister on patients admitted with mild symptoms in care centres, medium symptoms in welfare centres and serious symptom in hosptials, besides those isolated in their homes with no symptoms.

Of the 43,000 oximeters ordered through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, 23,000 had already arrived and the rest were expected in a few days, Vijaybaskar said. More oximeters would be purchased on need basis, he said.