Scarcity of oxygen: Nepal’s hospitals stop admitting Covid-19 patients

Nepal, (Hindustan Times), 13 May 2021 - Patients in Nepal are gasping for breath, as authorities said they were facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen due to which 16 people infected with Covid-19 died recently, according to media reports.   

The deadly virus has so far infected 413,111 people and claimed 4,084 lives in the country, which has a population of approximately 29.5 million.   

The government on Wednesday asked private hospitals to instal their own oxygen plants to meet the need of oxygen within 15 days, the Himalayan Times reported.   

According to the decision, all private hospitals with more than 100 beds will have to install their own oxygen plant and the government will provide the necessary support for this purpose.   

 Dr Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population said it  would help hospitals set up  plants to meet the increasing demand of oxygen for Covid patients. 

Amid the growing crisis, on Monday Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli lost a confidence vote in  parliament, pitching the country into  political turmoil at a time when it is battling a major second wave of  coronavirus infections.   

Oli has been criticized by opponents and on social media for playing down the risk of the pandemic and asking citizens to wash the virus down the throat by drinking a solution of hot water, guava leaves and turmeric power.