NOIDA: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur submitted last week a report to the state government on the oxygen wastage in hospitals across Uttar Pradesh during May.
Of 52 hospitals from various districts, 10 were found to be wasting oxygen or using more than the required amount per patient.
According to the team, the list of hospitals was provided by the government with most of them being state-run hospitals.
Those from the NCR districts included in the study were Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida, NCR Institute of Medical Sciences and LLRM in Meerut, Santosh Medical College in Ghaziabad and Rama Medical College in Hapur.
However, none of these were found to be using excessive oxygen.
The team collected information on the different kinds of instruments the hospitals used for supply of oxygen, amount of oxygen used and the number of patients using the oxygen.
This was compared to the standard usage to find where the consumption was excessive.
“There are different kinds of equipment for oxygen supply – various kinds of masks and ventilators.
All of these have standard consumption rates.
We compared these standards with the average daily consumption in these hospitals and found that 10 hospitals had been using excessive amounts.
We have submitted the findings to the state to take further corrective steps,” said professor Manindra Agrawal, deputy director of IIT Kanpur who was heading the study.
He added that maximum wastage was found while using the High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC).
“The study did not mention reasons for the wastage and it needs to be investigated further.
However, the wastage could be because of leakage if the mask is not adjusted properly and has been left unmonitored,” said Agrawal.
Meanwhile, the Gautam Budh Nagar administration has also prepared a report on the oxygen wastage at the 26 Covid hospitals in the district in April.
Sources said six hospitals—three branches each of Kailash and Yathartha hospitals — were found to be using more oxygen than the prescribed amount.
According to Dr Dinesh Sharma, director, Kailash hospital, Greater Noida, “We were not informed about any such problems by the administration.
However, we have been using the available oxygen judiciously.” Meanwhile, Yathartha Hospital could not be contacted.
District magistrate Suhas LY said the hospitals have been instructed to use oxygen according to prescribed limits.