New Delhi. Ventilators allocated to states and UT’s under PM Cares and the health ministry have more than tripled availability of the critical care machines in public hospitals from around 16,000 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck last year to nearly 60,000 at present.
Government sources said 43,800 ventilators were delivered to states and UTs after the pandemic hit India and the PM Cares fund was set up. Prior to the Covid-19 situation, according to non-government estimates, there were 47,500 ventilators in the country in public as well as private medical facilities. A study put the number in public hospitals at 17,850, which was higher than the Centre’s own estimate of 16,000.
The health ministry has urged states to fully utilise the ventilators after it came to light that the machines were not being fully utilised in several states. Some states like Punjab and Rajasthan complained that the machines were faulty. In a statement, the health ministry said its teams visited the concerned hospitals in Punjab and were able to install the machines after replacing a few consumables after which they worked well.
The government has said WhatsApp groups have been formed with representatives of state health departments and manufacturers like BEL to ensure glitches and maintenance issues are speedily sorted out. In the case of some states, ventilators supplied under PM Cares account for more than 50% of the machines.
Ventilators were mostly supplied last year and the health ministry as well as other government experts have been in touch with states all through. Efforts have been made to ensure that the machines are in working condition.
Prior to the pandemic, the availability of ventilators even in bigger states was limited. Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka had around 5,800, 7,000 and 6,600 ventilators in all. Populous states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh had much fewer.
Courtesy – VSK BHARATH
