Amid surge in coronavirus cases burdening the existing healthcare infrastructure, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has added 250 ventilators to hospitals across Kashmir taking the tally to over 300 in the region.
The procurement of the life saving machines has been facilitated by the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited, a government undertaking entrusted with supplies of medical equipment to government hospitals in the UT.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, outgoing General Manager, JKMSCL, Dr Muhammad Iqbal said: “Kashmir’s hospitals are now equipped with over 300 ventilators. Earlier their number was over 50 in Kashmir.”
Giving breakup, Dr Iqbal said: “Government Medical College has been allotted 120 ventilators, GMC Baramulla 10, GMC Anantnag 12 and the directorate of Health Services Kashmir 50 ventilators. Besides, 30 portable ventilators were given to medical college Srinagar. Earlier Medical College and DHSK had only 25 ventilators.”
A ventilator, also known as a respirator or breathing machine, is a medical device that provides a patient with oxygen when they are unable to breathe on their own.
He said they have also handed over 3000 oxygen concentrators and 4000 oxygen cylinders to DHSK. “The requisition for oxygen equipment came late from the authorities, but they have started procurement process on war-footing.”
According to the data of health department currently over 340 COVID positives patients are on oxygen supplies and six are on ventilators in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir government has already ordered procurement of 700 ventilators for hospitals in the union territory amidst corona crisis.
There are more than 4000 beds available in the Kashmir for oxygen support and some 350 such beds are in use while the remaining are empty. There are 12,942 beds available for coronavirus patients across Kashmir hospitals of which 6000 beds are occupied. As per the district-wise breakup, Srinagar has 2918 beds, Pulwama 2475, Bandipora 1010, Budgam 1047, Kupwara 1180, Ganderbal 1045, Anantnag 735, Shopian 805, Kulgam 735, and Baramulla 992.