Bengaluru: To reduce the increasing demand of oxygen, ventilators will be used instead of High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO), said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar.

He was speaking to media after chairing a meeting with DHOs, District Surgeons, Deans and Director of Medical Colleges and Super Speciality Hospitals in all districts via video-Conference here yesterday.

The Minister said that patients with moderate symptoms need about 20 to 60 litres of oxygen per minute. So, they have to find ways to reduce dependence on oxygen. It has been decided to utilise NIV ventilators as an alternative which is more effective. This will reduce the oxygen demand by 80 percent and all patients in HFNO will be shifted to ventilator beds, he added.

Lack of specialist manpower 

As a result of continuous efforts to ramp up health infrastructure, since last 6-8 months, 50 oxygenated beds have been set up in every Taluk Hospital. They also have about 6 ventilators in each Taluk Hospital. However, due to lack of specialist manpower, oxygen is being used in-spite of availability of ventilators. 

To address this issue, the Government will be recruiting anaesthetists, doctors on contract basis. 

All Covid Hospitals have been asked to install CCTV cameras within a week. This will help remote monitoring and also ensure efficient use of beds. 

High fatality rate

He said fatality rate was high in some districts and they were finding out reasons for this. Early detection and treatment was the key to recovery and prevent causalities. 

The positivity rate in State is 33.09 percent and the aim of the Government was to bring it down to 5 percent, he added.