Ahmedabad : Oxygen 2.5 times dearer, hospitals fret

The cost of oxygen cylinders has shot through the roof in past few months, thanks to increased demand due to rise in Covid-19 cases. Hospitals claim prices have risen by 50% to 2.5 times.

Shilpa Agrawal, director of Medilink Hospital in Satellite, said, “On June 3, we were informed by our oxygen suppliers about price revision of oxygen cylinder. That was almost 2.5 times the pre-Covid rate. Overall, our expenditure has gone up from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 70 lakh per month. If the government can cap our fees, why can’t they do the same for oxygen and medical waste collection?” Dr Bhavesh Thakkar, chairman of Star Hospital in Bapunagar, said, “The cost of oxygen has increased from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.4 lakh per month.”

Deputy general manager (healthcare services) at Apollo Hospitals in Bhat, Sandip Joshi, said their supplier has already approached them twice post-Covid for revision of the rates. Secretary of Ahmedabad Hospital and Nursing Home Association (AHNA), Dr Viren Shah said, “The government must act on these issues swiftly and resolve it.”

When contacted, Om Prakash Machra, DyMC-health, said, “The oxygen supply has been restored. As far as oxygen rates are concerned, we haven’t got any complaints but AMC officials, GPCB and other departments are always ready to help them.”