Nizamabad: Families of COVID victims protest at hospital; allege shortage of oxygen

Nizamabad: The families of three deceased Covid-19 patients staged a protest outside the Government General Hospital this district headquarters town in Telangana, alleging negligence on the part of hospital staff and lack of oxygen in the hospital.

The three Covid-19 patients belonged to Bheemgal, Jakranpally and ARP Camp in Yedapally mandal.

Since Thursday night, five Covid-19 patients have died in GGH, Nizamabad, where patients from Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Nirmal districts are being treated for the virus.

A senior government doctor at GGH said, “The allegations of the relatives are baseless. We have a centralised oxygen system with sensors to detect emptying of cylinders. We also have a back up of 100 big cylinders. The three patients who died had severe co-morbid conditions. There is no question of oxygen shortage as sufficient arrangements have been made.”

With a functioning virology laboratory in GGH, Covid-19 patients are tested and treated in Nizamabad.

Earlier, the patients found to test positive were shifted to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad.

District collector C. Narayana Reddy reviewed the situation with GGH officials after the death of the Covid-19 patients on Friday.

He said, “All the necessary requirements of oxygen are being monitored on a day to day basis. We are fully equipped to treat Covid-19 patients.” GGH’s medical superintendent M. Nageshwar Rao said that Covid-19 patients died due to low levels of oxygen and due to their co-morbid conditions.

There were no lapses in medical treatment and oxygen facility, he said.