O2 plant in Palamu hospital out of order amid rising Covid cases
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Daltonganj: Amid the gradual rise in Covid-19 cases nationally as well as in the state, the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plant, commonly known as the medical oxygen plant of the sub-divisional hospital in Hussainabad, approximately 80 km away, is non-functional due to technical snag.
None of the hospital officials is willing to admit how long this plant has been inoperative.
With the incidence of Covid cases, attention has turned again to the oxygen plant in the Hussainabad sub-divisional hospital, which caters to patients from nearby villages, including neighbouring Bihar.
According to sources, the hospital management did not push for early repair of the plant. Officials only telephoned an engineer of the plant maintenance, who is based in Kolkata, and never pursued it thereafter, the sources added.
"The hospital is a divided house and non-cooperation among the paramedical staff and the doctors is evident," an official said, requesting anonymity.
On Sunday, district civil surgeon, Dr Anil Kumar, went to the hospital and tried to switch the plant on in vain. When put on, the plant did not produce even half an ounce of oxygen apart from the blaring alarm sound, Dr Kumar said.
Speaking to TOI on Sunday, Dr Kumar further said, "Such an apathy of the medical officer in charge of the sub-divisional hospital is unacceptable. I noted the cell phone number of the engineer in Kolkata and spoke to him. He wanted advance payment for working on this plant, which I have assured him." Meanwhile, the medical officer in charge of the hospital, Dr Binesh Kumar, put the blame on the block programme manager, Bibhuti Kumar.
Bibhuti Kumar, however, described Dr Binesh's move as a cover-up for the inaction.
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