Six Covid-19 patients die due to oxygen shortage at Peshawar hospital

PESHAWAR: At least six Covid-19 patients died allegedly due to a shortage of oxygen at Peshawar’s Khyber Teaching Hospital, ARY News reported.

The deaths occurred last night, sources at the health facility said.

According to a spokesperson for the hospital, five of the patients were under treatment at the health facility’s coronavirus ward while one was in the intensive care unit. He added the hospital gets its oxygen supply from Rawalpindi which did not reach on time, as a result of which the critically ill patients died.

Confirming the news, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra tweeted: “There was an incident at KTH last night involving a shortage of oxygen supply.”

Also Read: Two newborns die for ‘want of oxygen’ at Bhakkar hospital

“I have directed the BoG [Board of Governors] to conduct an immediate inquiry & take action within 48 hours. If found unsatisfactory or if otherwise required, the govt will immediately order its own independent inquiry.”

1. There was an incident at KTH last night involving a shortage of oxygen supply.
I have directed the BoG to conduct an immediate inquiry & take action within 48 hours. If found unsatisfactory, or if otherwise required, the govt will immediately order its own independent inquiry.

— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) December 6, 2020

Jhagra vowed that all the facts of the case will be made public, requesting people not to peddle unverified information on social media. “Neither this, nor any other incident will be left unused, to improve the health system; it’s service; and it’s system of accountability and transparency,” he said.

Also Read: Govt to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen to hospitals: Hammad Azhar

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan assured that a probe into the incident will be completed within 48 hours, promising strict action against those found responsible.

Speaking at a press conference later, Jhagra said six patients admitted to the coronavirus ward died due to a lack of oxygen supply. Anyone found negligent at any level would not be spared, he declared, stressing the need for improving the health system and learning lessons from the incident.