Inefficiencies in oxygen plant maintenance cost Jamshedpur hospitals Rs 36 lakh annually

Jamshedpur: Despite having functional oxygen plants, MGM Hospital and Sadar Hospital in East Singhbhum continue to spend lakhs of rupees annually on oxygen cylinders, highlighting inefficiencies and lack of maintenance in government healthcare facilities. The combined expenditure on oxygen cylinders from both hospitals is approximately Rs 36 lakh per year, with MGM Hospital alone accounting for Rs 30 lakh annually.

MGM Hospital has two oxygen plants, and Sadar Hospital has the same number. Together, these plants have the capacity to supply oxygen to around 600 patients simultaneously. However, officials’ negligence in timely maintenance has rendered these plants unreliable, forcing the hospitals to depend on costly cylinder purchases.

“If the plants were maintained properly, we wouldn’t need to spend this much on oxygen cylinders,” The oxygen plants at MGM Hospital frequently break down, with no timely repairs. A hospital source revealed that maintenance costs would range between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per instance-a fraction of the annual expenditure on cylinder purchases. “Oxygen supply through pipelines is limited to a few wards like the ICU and emergency departments. In most wards, the pipeline system is non-functional, and patients rely on cylinders,” said Dr. Shikha Rani, Superintendent of MGM Hospital.

Moreover, pipeline leakage has further compromised the system. Experts state that oxygen pressure in pipelines should ideally range between 45 and 65 PSI (pounds per square inch) for optimal delivery. However, at MGM, the pressure often drops below 40 PSI due to leaks, affecting patient care.

When questioned, Dr. Sahir Pal, Civil Surgeon of East Singhbhum, stated, “Oxygen is supplied to all wards through pipelines. Cylinders are kept for emergencies and are used when patients are referred or in critical situations.”

However, the reliance on cylinders in wards indicates systemic inefficiencies.

Healthcare experts and patient advocates have criticized this wastage of public funds, urging hospital authorities to prioritize plant maintenance. Timely repairs and functional pipelines could significantly reduce costs and improve patient care.

The situation demands urgent intervention from the state health department to ensure that the resources intended for public welfare are utilized efficiently, and recurring expenditures on preventable issues are curtailed.