SLMA Head warns of impending health system collapse

Rapid increase in high-flow oxygen-dependent Covid patients

COVID-19 deaths would rise rapidly in the near future as the number of patients who needed high-flow oxygen had increased rapidly, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President, Dr. Padma Gunaratne said yesterday.

Dr. Gunaratne said that members of the general public needed to act more responsibly to prevent the collapse of the health sector. During the first two waves of the pandemic, those who developed symptoms and those who needed high-flow oxygen were relatively low. However, during the last two weeks those who needed oxygen support had risen rapidly, Dr. Gunaratne said.

‘This is why the Delta variant is scary. Soon, the demand for oxygen will also exceed the supply. Then, we will see an increase in the number of deaths. I think everyone now knows that hospitals are running out of space and that health staff too have contracted the virus. On average, a person who dies from COVID-19 complications will remain in hospital for at least two weeks. As the number of such people increases, the health sector will not be able to cope with the case load.”

Deputy Director-General Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that in the past few months they had tried to increase the oxygen storage capacity in hospitals. Large storage tanks had been given to all major hospitals, and the Ministry had also established in-house plants in main hospitals to generate oxygen.

“These units will also be provided to rural hospitals. About 3,000 Breathing Aid Devices have been provided to multiple hospitals in the country. However, as the number of patients, who need high-flow oxygen, rises, we will run out of capacity,” he said.

Meanwhile, State Minister, Professor Channa Jayasumana told The Island that they would start importing oxygen from India and Singapore in the coming two weeks. He added that there were two Sri Lankan companies that could supply about 77 and 44 tonnes of oxygen a day to hospitals.

“Cabinet approval has been obtained for adopting emergency measures to address the rising demand for oxygen. This was discussed in Parliament, too and we will start making emergency purchases soon,” he said.