Will government take stern action in supply of defunct ventilators?

Aurangabad, May 18:

The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) received 150 ventilators under the head of PM Care Fund. However, the experts on the very first day clarified that they could not be utilised for the treatment of serious patients in the ICU ward. Above all, the majority of the ventilators turned out to be defunct. However, the local administration instead of sending them back tried to repair them. Of the total stock, few ventilators were given to the private hospitals and few of them to the neighbouring districts. Meanwhile, demand is gearing up to initiate action and file offences against those who are guilty in the supply and distribution of these ventilators. It is also being feared that the issue may be politicised.

Who are responsible?

It may be noted that the ventilators were not tested during their journey from the centre to the state and from the state to the GMCH. The investigation is needed to find out who is guilty - the company that had manufactured, the agency which had placed an order, the supplier of ventilators to the government hospitals etc. Eyebrows are also being raised when the local administration failed to send back the defunct stock of ventilators. Why the efforts were taken to repair them, why they were given to private hospitals or other neighbouring districts? The demand is gearing up to investigate whether there was pressure on local administration to utilise the defunct ventilators and if yes then file offences against them ?.

MP Imtiaz Jaleel said, " It was learnt that the stock of ventilators received is not in usable condition on April 12. Then also the divisional commissioner issued an order to distribute them to other districts. GMCH administration should have made it clear that the ventilators are of no use, therefore, it should not be stocked. These ventilators should have sent back and new ones should have been ordered for the benefit of the patients. The administration should take immediate action like filing an offence against the agency which had supplied the ventilators."

MLC Satish Chavan said, " The government should find out who is guilty in the supply of defunct ventilators. The government should fix the supplier or the agency placing the order for it. They should be punished and should not be spared."