Shortage of ventilators: HC sets May 12 as next date of hearing

Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 9

The Punjab Government has released three ventilators for Fatehgarh Sahib. This was stated by Advocate General Atul Nanda, Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a reply to a plea filed by Advocate Gitish Bhardwaj.

The plea was filed by Bhardwaj after the publication of a news in this regard in these columns that there were eight hospitals in Fatehgarh Sahib district, but no ventilator.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court listed May 12 as the next date of hearing as Bhardwaj demanded at least two ventilators for each hospital in the district.

Bhardwaj said during the course of hearing, Atul Nanda, along with additional Advocate General Pardeep Bajwa, said three ventilators had been reallocated from Sangrur to Fatehgarh Sahib district.

He said more ventilators were required as there were eight hospital with a capacity of 300 beds. There were 112 isolation wards for level-two patients, he added. So, the court adjourned the matter to May 12 to check for the feasibility of ventilators.

Recently, The Tribune had highlighted that despite having three MLAs and a doctor, who was Member of Parliament belonging to the ruling party, all eight Civil Hospitals in the district did not have even a single ventilator.

The hospitals have to refer critically-ill patients to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, or the PGI, Chandigarh.