Negligence by the authorities was responsible for "leakage" in the liquified oxygen tank at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the early hours of Friday that snapped supply of oxygen to its different units, doctors and the supplier of the gas alleged.
Pipeline supply of oxygen from the tank to different units remained snapped from about 1:20 am to about 7 am Friday.
Four paUents - Kamrul Hassan. Bhanu, Shila Rani and Mosharraf - died at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the DMCH between 2 am and 7:15 am on Friday.
It was alleged that the patients died due to disruption in oxygen supply but doctors denied it.
"The oxygen tank is designed in such a way that when the pressure of gas exceeds a certain limit, liquid gas automatically leaks." claimed Mohammed
Saber. Marketing Manager of Bangladesh Oxygen (BOC). which supplies gas to the DMCH.
" Supply of oxygen to the central pipeline system was snapped due to the automatic leakage. Normal supply was restored when the leak was repaired at about 7 in the morning”. he said.
"None informed our technicians stationed at the hospital about the leakage. Besides, we are not responsible for operating the liquified gas tank. The hospital authorities has taken the charge of regular maintenance and it is their responsibility‘To Took-into any malfunctioning."
Asked if they have any contract for operating the tarik and the pipeline system. Saber replied, "There is no contract between BOC and the hospital authorities for maintenance of the tank."
A senior doctor at the hospital said. "The hospital authorities are liable for operation of the oxygen tank and they are supposed to maintain it. The hospital has its own engineers for the job."
Another doctor said, "The incident could turn disastrous. In fact, similar incidents of gas supply suspension occurred at the hospital many times earlier but none was informed, not even the departmental heads. The authorities concerned give lame excuse that there is no oxygen supply from the supplier
Similar . allegations -were made by a senior nurse at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We often run out of oxygen supply (through pipeline system) here at the ICU. We are habituated to this problem. We informed the hospital authorities many times earlier but it seems there is no end to trie problem.
The liquified oxygen gas tank was installed in 1996 by the Bangladesh Oxygen. Oxygen is supplied to the ICU, Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and about dozen operation theatres from the tank through a pipeline system. Besides, each ward has its own supply of oxygen through cylinders.
The tank is situated in a 'protected area' outside the main building, next to the casualty and gynaecology operation theatres.
During a visit to the DMCH yesterday, all the rooms in the administrative section were seen under lock and key. "It's holiday. You will not find any one here." said a ward boy at a ward nearby.
An on-duty doctor said that Director in-charge of the hospital Dr Syed Babar Hossain did not visit the hospital till 4-30 pm yesterday. "It is negligence on the part of the hospital authorities. The authorities have not given due attention to the problem," said a senior doctor
requesting anonymity.
Dr Hossain could not be contacted till filing of this report last night.
During an investigation it was found that Kamrul Hasan was not on ventilation (supplemental oxygen piped into the nose to enhance oxygenation).
Dr Abul Quasem, who was on duty at the ICU on Friday told this correspondent .yesterday that Kamrul Hassan’died from congenital myopathic disease. His condition was very bad al-through.
Bhanu was being treated for pesticide poisoning, Shila Rani died of viral encephalitis (viral infection of brain) and Mosharaf died of brain infection. Mosharraf was "clinically dead" when he was taken to the ICU. Dr. Quashem said.
None of the deaths was due to lack of oxygen supply through the pipeline, he said. Moreover, oxygen cylinders are kept ready at the ICU always, he said.
Another patient who was on ventilation in the ICU during
the same time on Friday is still surviving. The patient, Arshra-ful Islam from Nargis Memorial Hospital in Khulna, is suffering from paralysis.
"We are always equipped with extra oxygen cylinders. Besides, the ventilators can automatically produce oxygen (21 per cent). So there Is no scope for oxygen shortage here", Quashem said.
But he admitted that oxygen supply often runs out at the ICU and operation theatres.
UNB adds: The government setup a 3-member committee yesterday to find out the causes of explosion of the mother cylinder of liquefied oxygen tank.
The members of the committee are: Joint Secretary (Coordination) of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry Ms Makduma Nargis. Director (Medical) of Health Directorate Md Shah Munir and Prof M Majid of DMCH.
The committee is to submit its report to Health Minister Salahuddin Yusuf within three days.