Gorakhpur oxygen deaths: SC directs centre to frame SOP on optimal use of medical oxygen, equipment and devices
Out of the children who lost their lives, around 23 were infants. The oxygen supplier reportedly stopped the oxygen supply due to the non-payment of his accumulated dues of ₹68 lakh despite issuing several warning letters to the state-run hospital, which allegedly led to the tragic incident.;
New Delhi: While hearing public interest litigation over the shortage of oxygen supply which killed around 60 children at a Gorakhpur hospital in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, the supreme court gave the central government eight weeks to submit the final guidelines regarding the standard operating procedure (SOPs) for optimal use of National Medical Oxygen, medical equipment and devices.
The bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud stated, "The counsel for Union of India states that the National Oxygen Guidelines and SOPs for optimal utilization of medical oxygen equipment and devices are presently under consideration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."
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The court observed, "In this view of the matter, we grant time, as prayed, to place a counter affidavit before this Court after the guidelines are duly formulated placing the relevant guidelines and policy on the record."
The court was hearing a petition filed in 2017 by Naresh Dixit following the tragedy which took place at Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur seeking a judicial probe into the lapses which led to the death of around 63 children. The petition also sought guidelines which would ensure uniform policy on the medical oxygen supply at hospitals without interruption, as per a media report in the Hindustan Times. Further, it requested the a separate system or mechanism for supply of oxygen cylinders.
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