Covid patients die after major hospital runs out of oxygen in Pakistan

Hospital director among those suspended over incident termed a ‘system failure’

Khyber Teaching Hospital said six people died after the vendor who supplies the hospital with medical oxygen failed to deliver in time (EPA)

An investigation has been launched and several senior members of staff suspended after the deaths of six coronavirus patients during an oxygen shortage at a hospital in Pakistan.

Officials at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the city of Peshawar, confirmed that the six died on Saturday night after a vendor failed to deliver the required supply of oxygen cylinders.

A seventh death, of a two-year-old child, was also blamed on the hospital by the child’s family alleging negligence, but the authorities would not confirm this was linked to the oxygen shortage.

There we panicked scenes at the hospital as supplies ran low on Saturday, with staff eventually resorting to asking patients’ families if they would be able to arrange their own oxygen cylinders.

Some 13 patients were moved to the emergency department where a limited supply of oxygen was still available as the hospital rationed its supplies. But there too the supply eventually depleted, until a delivery of cylinders was finally made at 4am local time on Sunday. 

According to a preliminary investigation, two officials at the oxygen plant were absent on the day of the incident when the hospital made urgent calls.  

An initial report said the incident happened due to "system failure" and the staff at the oxygen plant lacked training and backup.

The hospital called it a case of "criminal negligence" and seven staff members, including the director of the hospital's Medical Teaching Institution (MTI), have been suspended as part of the initial investigation.  

The incident led to an outcry on Twitter with many blaming the hospital for negligence and accusing it of shifting the blame onto the oxygen supply unit, while an opposition party demanded the resignation of the health minister.

The calls prompted provincial Health Minister Taimur Jhagra to order an immediate investigation in the matter and asked for a report within 48 hours.

“There was an incident at KTH last night involving a shortage of oxygen supply. I have directed the BoG to conduct an immediate inquiry & take action within 48 hours. If found unsatisfactory, or if otherwise required, the govt will immediately order its own independent inquiry,” said Mr Jhagra.

Pakistan has seen 420,294 coronavirus cases and 8,000 deaths, and the country is currently dealing with a fresh wave of infections, adding over 20,000 new cases in the last week, according to Johns Hopkins University.