The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday took an active deviation to the Central Government’s inability to commit a rise in the supply of Oxygen quantity to the State of Karnataka irrespective of the huge increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients and the deaths related to it in the State. The Hon’ble Court was acknowledged on Tuesday that while the regular demand of oxygen in the State is 1,792 Metric Tonnes (MT), the Centre had expanded the quantity from 802 to 865 MT only. The Bench led by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka was nonchalant when the attorney for the Central Government acknowledged the court that it would be holding a meeting tomorrow to make a decision with regards to increasing oxygen supply. The Court was also informed about the current developments in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar and Kalaburagi districts whether a number of patients had died in hospitals due to the shortage of ample oxygen supply.
The Court passed the orders for the center to account rising the quota of oxygen and inform the court the next day, the state of Karnataka to place on record existing guidelines for allotment of oxygen to hospitals in three various cities, and if any mechanism is available under which a hospital running out can immediately ask for release of Oxygen.
On attainment of Remdesivir drug administrated to COVID-19 patients, the Court was notified that as on April 30, the demand was for 35,000 vials of the drug in the State.
However, the State is getting only 15,800 vials per day from the Centre which is less than half the requirement, said the Bench.
“State is not acquiring Remdesivir even to the expanse of 50 percent”.
Lastly, the Hon’ble Court said that it would pass detailed directions on the subject on Wednesday.