From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 23: The Covid-19 pandemic has produced an indirect benefit leading to significant improvement in Karnataka’s health infrastructure with increase in bed capacity in the medical facilities and scaling up of oxygen production in hospitals.

Pointing this out, Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said the State’s capacity to test has increased by 1.5 to 2 lakh samples per day, availability of 1,015 MT oxygen, availability of more than 22,000 oxygen beds, supply of Remdesivir as per requirement and various other measures initiated by the state government to control the pandemic has invariably ramped up the health infrastructure in the State.

The Health and Family Welfare Department along with Medical Education Department have worked in synergy towards improving health infrastructure in the State. This has helped the state in mitigating the impact of second wave and provide timely treatment to the patients.

Dr Sudhakar pointed out that towards the end of February, about 60,000 to 70,000 cases were being tested per day. This number has been ramped up to more than 1,00,000 daily. So far, 2.85 crore samples have been tested in the state out of which 2.38 crore tests are RT-PCR.

The Union Government has suggested that States should ensure at least 70% of tests are RT-PCR. However more than 80% of the tests on Karnataka are RT-PCR tests. As many as 241, including 91 in government and 150 private RT-PCR laboratories are functional in the State.

Testing capacity has been increased before the surge of Covid-19 cases, thus capturing all the positive cases. Swab collection centres are established at all levels (PHC/CHC/GH/DH and Fever clinics) for every 50,000 population, Dr Sudhakar said.

In March 2020 Department of Health and Family Welfare had only 1970 oxygenated beds, 444 ICU beds and 610 beds with ventilators.

Over the past one year, additionally 22,001 oxygenated beds, 1,248 HFNC beds, 701 ICU beds and 1,548 beds with ventilators have been created. These facilities which were earlier restricted to District headquarters have been extended up to Taluk and CHC levels.

Similarly, in March 2020, Department of Medical Education had only 4700 oxygenated beds, 341 Ventilators, 15 HFNO and 151 KL capacity of LMO. Over the past one year additionally 4705 oxygenated beds, 305 ventilators, 555 HFNC, 73 KL of LMO have been created.

Karnataka has sufficient medical oxygen supply for the treatment of Covid patients. Apart from State’s oxygen production capacity at 815 MT, the Centre has allocated 1015 MT Medical oxygen and 2 PSA oxygen generation plants received at Yadgiri and KGF through foreign aid from Israel have been set up and made operational.

Oxygen availability increased

The State also received 140 MT oxygen through ISO containers and additional 4 ISO containers of 20 MT. Also, 3 facilities getting 1000 LPM capacity PSA plants with DRDO support at C V Raman Hospital, Bengaluru, ESI Medical College, Kalaburgi and Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences. 380 Oxygen cylinders and 800 oxygen concentrators have been received from the Centre. Additional 1600 Cylinders have been allotted and yet to be received.

In addition, 43 KL Liquid Medical Oxygen storage capacity is being augmented, work in Mysuru, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, Ramanagar and Uttara Kannada districts is in progress. More than 1000 MT oxygen is received through ten oxygen express trains.

Oxygen wheels have been operational at Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Kalaburgi and Belagavi.
Greenko has donated 200 Oxygen concentrators of 10 LPM capacity. 1000 oxygen bedded hospital inaugurated on May 19 at Toranagallu Ballari with support from Jindal Steel Works.

Purchase order has been given for 2,74,00 vials in April and received quantity is 1,80,700 vials till date. Again in the month of May, purchase order given for 51,360 vials and received quantity 11,000 vials till date. Received 900 vials of Remdesivir Injection by M/s. Cipla Limited (Under CSR Activity). Received 56,943 vials of Remdesivir Injection by Government of India (US AID). Floated global tender for 5,00,000 vials and tender opened on May 17.

State plans to vaccinate all citizens by Nov-Dec

The State Government is working towards a comprehensive plan to ensure vaccination for every citizen in the State by November-December.

As on May 22, as many as 1,20,14,015 doses have been administered into the State. In addition to 1,13,26,340 doses supplied by Centre, Karnataka has already received 14,94,170 doses from the order placed by State Government.

Significant transformation in Health infrastructure has been achieved during this pandemic. Despite the revenue crunch, all available resources have been utilized to enhance health infrastructure.

"This will help in creating ‘Arogya Karnataka’ in the coming days," Dr Sudhakar added.