By Sue-Ann Wayow
BY the end of this month, Government would have spent $4.2 million in the purchase of oxygen for the public health system.
This was revealed by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who said that 25% more oxygen was consumed in May than in April.
And he is maintaining that there is no oxygen shortage in the public health system.
On Monday, Deyalsingh was asked in Parliament: “Could the Minister confirm or deny persistent reports of severe oxygen shortages at many public health locations?”
He was asked the question by Member of Parliament for Caroni Central Arnold Ram.
Deyalsingh responded, “I can stand here and say categorically that those reports are untrue…There is absolutely no oxygen shortages in any of the public healthcare facilities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.”
Giving a breakdown of oxygen supply he said at the Point Fortin Hospital, there was five 220 cubic foot cylinders, that produce 220 standard cubic feet (scf) per hour. At the Arima Hospital, there was one 2,220 cubic foot cylinder that produces oxygen every 90 minutes. Tobago was producing its own oxygen at two facilities, the Scarborough Hospital and the Roxborough Hospital.
Deyalsingh said Massy Gasses normally supplies three million scf per month to the public health system.
He said, “For the month of April, they did do that. At that time, I indicated to the country I had asked Massy to go up to a 50% reserve capacity. In May, for this month already, we have consumed over 25% more oxygen than we did in April. We will consume at the end of May, roughly $4.2 million worth of oxygen.”
