New 100-bedded JNIMS ICU lying unutilised
Additional manpower, 1300 d-type oxygen cylinders must to start functioning
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 16 2021: Even though chief minister N Biren recently inaugurated a newly constructed 100-bedded ICU at JNIMS for Covid patients, the same facility is yet to start functioning due to shortage of manpower and requisite infrastructure.

According to a source, nobody is sure when the new ICU ward will start functioning as there is no proper policy or timeline for filling up the required manpower and install basic equipment.

JNIMS is already facing shortage of manpower in its Covid ward and as such managing the 100 bedded ICU will be a difficult task in the present scenario for the new ICU ward will entail additional manpower including doctors, nurses, attendants and other paramedical staff as well.

On the other hand, a patient in ICU generally consumes 13 D-Type oxygen cylinders and as such the 100 bedded ICU will require at least 1300 D-Type oxygen cylinders along with some reserved stocks for proper functioning.

Besides, there should be proper arrangement for providing regular oxygen supply to the ICU on daily basis so that there is no issue of stock depletion.

JNIMS authority is in no position to arrange the additional requirement of oxygen cylinders, the source added.

It also informed that a joint meeting between government officials and JNIMS authority led by its director was held on Wednesday to discuss the process for commissioning the new ICU ward.

During the meeting, JNIMS authority conveyed that it has no additional manpower to run the new ICU ward.

Besides, they will need at least 1300 D-Type cylinders and regular oxygen supply chain to utilise the facility.

They urged the government officials to make necessary arrangements by recruiting additional manpower and acquiring oxygen cylinders while assuring proper management of the ICU ward if they have the requirements in place.

Dr Nivedita Lairenlakpam, H Balkrishna and Ng Uttam, who represented the government, assured to apprise the situation to the higher officials and take up necessary measures for commissioning the new ICU ward at the earliest.

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