In a tragic incident, a 31-Year-Old COVID positive patient died in the wee hours of Saturday in Bengaluru. He was rushed to three hospitals in search of a ventilator before he took his last breath. While the BBMP has initiated a probe, this incident is a pointer to the shortage of beds for seriously ill patients.
The patient who is a resident of Padmanabha Nagar was tested positive on April 9 and was in home isolation. On Friday evening, he developed acute hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) and was taken to Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Vasantha Nagar around 8:30 PM in a private ambulance. AN NGO named Mercy Mission working on the Covid Front, helped the family book an ICU bed through the 108 Arogya Kavacha ambulance service.
However, unfortunately, by the time, he reached the hospital, there was no ICU bed available. The family then sought a bed in the Girinagar branch of the hospital. The Booking was again done via 108.
By then the family reached the branch, patient’s oxygen level was 40% as against the normal 95%. Dr. Reshma S, unit head, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Girinagar branch, said, “While his Oxygen saturation level initially improved, it fell to single digits despite giving 12 liters of Oxygen. He was required to be on a Ventilator, but we didn’t have a ventilator bed vacant.”
On Saturday, around 1 AM, he was moved to a private hospital near Koramangala but died around 4 AM.
Dr (Wing Commander) MD Marker, medical director, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Vasanth Nagar said by the time the patient came, the ventilator beds were full. “On Friday evening, we had two sick patients brought in requiring ICU treatment. This patient came around 9 PM. We could not have removed the life support system of one patient to accommodate the patient referred by BBMP.”
Now, BBMP has issued showcase notice to Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Vasanth Nagar, asking why the patient was denied a bed despite booking done through the centralised hospital bed management system.
Karnataka on Saturday saw 6,955 fresh COVID-19 cases — a small dip in the number of new COVID-19 cases compared to the previous day’s 7,955, according to the Health Department.
Bengaluru alone contributed more than 50% of the day’s cases and mortalities with 4,384 fresh infections and 19 deaths on Saturday. The city has so far reported 4,74,398 infections and 4,788 deaths. The current number of active cases is 44,863.
Source: The Hindu, TNM.
Note: Images used are for representation purpose only.
