Ventilator out of use at Nurpur, patients suffer
Rajiv Mahajan
Nurpur, June 9
Even as critical patients from lower Kangra region are being referred to hospitals in other districts, a ventilator at Nurpur’s Civil Hospital has been gathering dust at its storeroom for the past over four years.
The equipment could have saved the lives of several Covid patients who died due to lack of ICU beds in the district.
A 50-bed Covid care centre was set up at the Civil Hospital where only oxygen beds were arranged. Not a single ICU bed with ventilator facility was provided by the district authorities.
Gurdarshan Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, said, “There is some power backup issue with the ventilator. A complaint has been made to the service provider. I have also talked to the official concerned. He has assured to rectify the snag soon.”
Former MLA Ajay Mahajan said there were many instances where local residents, who needed critical Covid care, had to rush to private hospitals in neighbouring districts in Punjab. Their families ended up spending huge amounts of money.
He alleged local MLA and Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania had promised to provide zonal-level healthcare facilities at the Civil Hospital here, but nothing was done.
50-bed Covid centre, but no ICU at hospital
- A ventilator at Nurpur’s Civil Hospital is lying unused for the past over four years
- A 50-bed Covid care centre was set up at the hospital, but only oxygen beds were arranged
- Critical patients from lower Kangra region are rushed to private hospitals in Pathankot
