Covid-19 crisis: Oxygen requirement up by 120%

No point in adding more beds: Problem is manpower shortage

By Rathindra Kuruwita 

The number of COVID-19 patients who need oxygen support has increased by 120% during last four days, and deaths are likely to increase if the present trend continued, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) warns.

GMOA General Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said that on 27 May, 149 patients needed oxygen support but by 31 May, that number had risen 330. 

“Given the trend, we expect that those in critical need will increase. So, deaths too are likely to increase in the coming days, leading to a crisis,” he said. 

Dr Fernando said there were over 8,000 Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment at their homes, and the government had to come up with a mechanism to supervise them. 

The GMOA General Secretary added that there were 94 COVID-19 treatment centres and 94 interim care units. “There are 23, 678 beds in these facilities but already 17, 583 beds are occupied. Although the 6,000 patients who are at home can be accommodated in these centres there are a number of factors preventing this,” he said.

He said that there was no point in adding more hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients as the trained health care staff remained the same. 

“There are empty beds in treatment centres. We lack manpower.”