Oxygen Units Threatening To Stop Supply, Say Bengaluru Private Hospitals
BENGALURU, 20 OCT 2020:
Major medical oxygen manufacturers have threatened to stop their supplies to some of Bengaluru’s hospitals, demanding exorbitant charges, the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (Phana) has alleged.
While the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had, on September 26, capped the price of liquid oxygen at Rs 15.22 per cubic metre, the companies have been charging higher cost citing transportation and handling charges. Phana wrote to the state drugs controller on October 14, demanding action to ensure continuous supply of medical oxygen for treating coronavirus patients.
State ignored setting limits on oxygen transport fee.
Though the NPPA had mentioned that transportation cost was to be capped by the state governments, Karnataka has taken no measure in this regard. After the complaint from Phana, an official from the drugs controller department visited a private hospital facing acute shortage of oxygen, but no follow-up action has been reportedly initiated so far.
Karnataka needs 500 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen daily and the state government has issued directives to curtail industrial usage of liquid oxygen and divert the same to medical purposes. Karnataka is buying medical oxygen from manufacturers in Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha. About half of hospitalised Covid-19 patients require high-flow nasal oxygen as they face declining oxygen saturation level and breathing difficulties.
“We’re having an issue with oxygen supply. Some major suppliers are threatening to stop the supply if we don’t pay them double the prescribed rates. At present, they are charging Rs 16 per cubic metre plus Rs 5 for transportation and GST. On top of that, they are demanding Rs 15 extra per cubic metre, which is exorbitant,” said Phana president Dr R Ravindra.
While the existing price stands at Rs 23.50 per cubic metre, the new charge demanded by the companies will mean it will cost Rs 40.30 per cubic metre. “With the increase in the rate of oxygen and the fixed rates earmarked by the government for Covid wards, it is difficult to sustain the hospital management which in turn can affect Covid patients,” Dr Ravindra said.
Pankaj Kumar Pandey, commissioner, health and family welfare department said he would look into the matter. Health minister K Sudhakar said there is no shortage of oxygen as of now. “But manufacturers are complaining that transportation costs are high. We will resolve this soon,” he said. The Times Of India