Will face oxygen shortage if there’s sudden surge of patients: health minister
There is no shortage of oxygen at hospitals right now, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said today.
"But if the number of patients increases by three-folds, from 7,000 to 21,000, we will not be able to meet the demands," Zahid Maleque said in a press conference at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons in Dhaka this noon.
He said the health directorate has already contacted the industries, which use liquid oxygen, so that oxygen can be collected from them during crisis.
"We are also planning to import small oxygen plants. With the current capability, we have no reason to be worried," the minister said.
About three crore doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, he said, "Beximco as well as the government are trying to get those soon. But we do not know the timeline. There is a global crisis over vaccine."
About other vaccine sources, he said, "We have green signalled the drug administration to give approval to vaccines which are available now. A committee led by the Principal Secretary is working on it."
"We have provided all documents to China's Sinopharm for the five lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine they will send as gift. Now, we're waiting for their response," he added.
The minister urged everyone to maintain health safety guidelines.
Director General of the health directorate Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam was also present at the press conference.
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