Karnataka HC directs use of 300 oxygen beds in hospital run by Railways for COVID-19
While the HC had asked if armed forces facilities can be used for this crisis, it was told there were no extra beds in their hospitals.
FollowThe Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take over 300 oxygen beds run by the South Western Railways in Bengaluru in the wake of the massive surge in Covid-19 cases. The state government was asked to take over similar Railway facilities in Mysuru and Hubballi.
A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar said “The Central government will take into consideration the increase in Covid-19 cases in the state. The Central government's decision in increasing the cap on supply of Remdesivir and oxygen shall be placed on record by Monday (May 3),” as reported by Live Law.
Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadgi informed the court that there is a cap of 802 MT per day on allocation of medical oxygen to the state. The production of Oxygen in the state exceeds much more than the requirement of the state but in view of the cap of 802 MT per day the state cannot utilize the excess amount. The estimated requirement of oxygen for the state is 1471 MT per day. As regards Remdesivir medicine it was submitted that the quota for the State of Karnataka is 1.22 lakhs for a period between April 21 to April 30.
In the biggest single day spike, Karnataka recorded 39,047 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 14.39 lakh, while fatalities crossed the 15,000 mark with 229 deaths. The previous high in the state was 34,804 cases on April 25 this year.
Bengaluru Urban alone accounted for 22,596 infections, the health department said in a bulletin.
The state-wide toll stood at 15,036. The day also saw 11,833 patients getting discharged. Cumulatively 14,39,822 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, which include 15,036 deaths and 10,95,883 discharges, the bulletin said. Of the 3,28,884 active cases, 2,192 are in Intensive Care Units of various hospitals.
On April 27, the HC had asked the Union government to ensure supply of 802 metric tonnes of oxygen per day for the state.
The HC also asked the Union government to increase the cap on supply of Remdesivir. In this regard, the BBMP was asked to display the contact number of the Deputy Drug Controller at all helpdesks outside Covid-19 hospitals, so that relatives can easily contact the authority.
In its order the bench said "We direct the state government to estimate the number of Remdesivir vials required in private hospitals as well 50% reserved beds in hospitals and submit a report to the Central government. We direct the state government to give a requisition to the central government to increase the outer limit, within two days. We direct the Central government to consider the request of the state government to increase outer limit allocation, considering the situation in the state of Karnataka. We direct the Central government to take immediate decision on the requisition submitted by the state government."
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