KATHMANDU, MAY 12

The hospitals in the capital have expressed inability to admit more coronavirus patients as they were facing shortage of oxygen.

Issuing separate press statements today Norvic International Hospital, Grande International Hospital, Nepal Medical College, Medicare Hospital, Nepal Bharat Maitri Hospital, and Dirghayu Guru Hospital and Research Centre have criticised the government for providing only 100 oxygen cylinders a day per hospital. They said they would not be able to admit more COVID patients till the government increased their daily quota of medical oxygen.

As per the health ministry, the demand for oxygen in the capital is 14,000 to 15,000 cylinders a day, but oxygen plants in Kathmandu can refill only 8,000 cylinders per day. About 2,000 cylinders are being refilled by oxygen plants in hospitals daily.

Bhaktapur Hospital is also facing shortage of oxygen.

There are 65 COVID patients undergoing treatment at the hospital and all of them need oxygen. 'We are not sure how long we'll be able to manage oxygen supply for them,' said Sumitra Gautam, medical superintendent at Bhaktapur Hospital.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 13, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.