Patients needing oxygen support being turned away by hospitals citing insufficient supply
An official of the Industries department laughed off the suggestions of a shortage of medical oxygen in the city. The liquid medical oxygen (LMO) produced at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) alone is enough to meet the needs of not just Visakhapatnam but of entire Andhra Pradesh, it is said.
However, the ground reality seems different. Some designated COVID hospitals are pressing the panic button hinting that their oxygen stock may dry up any moment and snuff out the lives of COVID-19 patients dependent on oxygen support. Relatives of patients allege that the position is bad even at the government hospitals and patients are being made to wait outside till a bed, with oxygen supply, is vacated.