The government has taken decision to install central oxygen supply line and liquid oxygen tanks in 83 hospitals.
Two contractors have been awarded the job installing
Shortage of contractors has been delaying the implementation process at a time of the coronavirus pandemic when most of the Covid-19 patients are dying due to lack of timely and adequate oxygen support.
Health Engineering Department is also working in this regard.
An additional secretary, who was transferred recently, issued a letter to National Electro-Medical Equipment Maintenance Workshop and TC (NEMEW and TC) on June 02 to install liquid oxygen tanks in 18 medical college hospitals, 16 250-bed hospitals and five specialised hospitals on an emergency basis.
A Covid-19 patient requires 60 litres of oxygen per minute, experts said. That's why small portable oxygen cylinders are not suitable to treat more Covid patients at a time and the cylinders need to be filled every alternative day.
But the implementing agencies have hardly any idea when the work would be completed and how much it would cost to install oxygen pipeline and liquid oxygen tanks. The decision to install central oxygen supply line has been taken by the ministry very late though Covid patients mostly suffer and die due to shortness of breath when high flow of oxygen is required.
Again on July 01, a deputy secretary issued a letter to Health Engineering Department (HED) to install central oxygen supply line and liquid oxygen tanks in two medical college hospitals, nine 250-bed and 12 100-bed hospitals on direct procurement method (DPM).
The rest 30 hospitals will install oxygen pipeline and liquid oxygen tanks with financial support from UNICEF.
Talking to the FE, NEMEW and TC chief technical manager Aminul Islam said they have been working to set up central oxygen supply line and liquid oxygen tanks at 26 hospitals.
Two contractors-Spectra International Ltd and Linday Bangladesh Ltd-have been engaged for this work. Work of three hospitals - Kurmitola General Hospital, Kuwait Maitree Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital-has been completed
"There are only two companies which can do this type of liquid oxygen tank installation work. We have given work order to them equally - 13 each. Spectra have completed work of two hospitals and their progress is good. Work of another nine hospitals is going on which are expected to be completed by next one week," he said.
But Linday Bangladesh has completed work of only one hospital and is delaying showing excuse that there is shortage of oxygen tanks which are to be imported from UK or India. NEMEW has already served them a show cause letter for undue delay.
Usually, it takes 15-20 days to complete the work, he added.
NEMEW has not got any bill from the contractors although there is allegation that DG health has got a bill of Tk 40 million or more for each of the hospitals which installed oxygen supply line and oxygen tanks.
Aminul Islam said it may require Tk 20-25 million for a new 250-bed hospital for installation of central oxygen supply line. Installation cost of a liquid oxygen tank may require at best Tk 1.75 million.
The cost may vary depending on the number of ICU beds, wards and length of oxygen pipeline.
On the other hand, health engineering department (HED) will set up oxygen supply line and liquid oxygen tanks at 23 hospitals. It has already completed the supply line work at Bashundhara Isolation Centre. Sheikh Russel Gastroliver Institute has set up oxygen line and liquid oxygen tank on their own.
NEMEW has awarded work order to Spectra International to install oxygen line in Kuwait Maitree Hospital, Suhrawardy Hospital, 250-bed Tangail General Hospital, Faridpur Medical College, Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj, Syed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College in Gazipur, MAG Osmani Hospital in Sylhet, Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in Khulna, 250-bed General Hospital in Chattogram, Gopalganj, Manikganj, Jamalpur and 100-bed hospital in Rangpur.
Linday Bangladesh has got the work order for Kurmitola General Hospital, Government Employee Hospital, 250-bed general hospitals in Munshiganj, Habiganj, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Sherpur, Bagerhat, Barguna, Chuadanga, Bhola, Magura, and Nilphamari.
Welcoming the initiative, renowned medicine expert at Dhaka Medical College Hospital Professor Dr Robed Amin said most of the Covid patients need high flow oxygen.
As people are still in the dark about the nature of the virus and how long the pandemic will continue, Bangladesh should take preparation for the second or third wave of infection like it is happening in USA, Australia and other countries.
He also suggested that central oxygen supply line should be installed in 50-bed hospitals too.
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