THE Central Government Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that no state government or union territory”specifically” reported any death due to lack of oxygen.
“Health is a state subject. Detailed guidelines for reporting of deaths have been issued by Union Health Ministry to all states/UTs. Accordingly, all states/UTs report cases and deaths to Union Health Ministry on a regular basis. However, no deaths due to lack of oxygen has been specifically reported by states/UTs”, the Minister of State(MoS) in the Health Ministry said.
Minister Bharati Pravin Pawar was responding to questions asked by Member of Parliament(MP) KC Venugopal.
The minister said the government of India had supported the states and undertook a series of actions including provisioning medical oxygen, and other consumables to ensure clinical care of COVID-19 patients in view of the steep rise in infection during April- May 2021.
The Indian Express on May 16 had profiled 16 people who died for want of oxygen. Many hospitals had knocked on the door of the courts appealing for the supply of oxygen as they feared the unfolding of a tragedy.
