Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Around 40 per cent of ventilators purchased during the Covid-19 pandemic are either lying unused or have been dumped as scrap after breaking down in hospitals attached to government medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh, according to sources in Directorate of Medical Education and Public Health Welfare Department.
Sources said the main reason behind ventilators not being used was the lack of trained technicians and that many doctors were not familiar with operating the machines. As a result, not all ventilators could be utilised even during the pandemic’s peak.
Moreover, many of these machines are now dumped due to non-maintenance in hospitals affiliated with medical colleges, while some remain packed and unused with the Madhya Pradesh Public Health Services Corporation Limited (MPPHSCL), the state agency responsible for procuring medical equipment.
Shahdol Medical College medical superintendent Dr Nagendra Singh said, “There are 30–32 ventilators in the hospital which are functional, and the others are dumped for repairing. We have a tally of 45 ventilators.”Jabalpur Medical College superintendent Dr Arvind Sharma said, “Around 200 ventilators are installed in the ICU and various wards.
They frequently break down, so repairs go on simultaneously. Around 150 ventilators are in stock.”Rewa Medical College superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra said, “We have 65 functional ventilators in the hospital. Five are in stock and seven are under repair or maintenance.”
No clear numbers
In a statement, MPPHSCL chairman Mayank Agrawal said, “In addition to purchasing, ventilators were also received via donations during Covid. Similarly, PM CARES Fund was used for procurement. So, MPPHSCL cannot figure out a proper bifurcation.”
