NEW DELHI — A devastating surge in coronavirus infections has exposed India’s dilapidated health infrastructure and a deep shortage of oxygen — a key treatment for seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
AFP looks at the reasons behind the shortage:
Why is medical oxygen vital?
Oxygen therapy is crucial for severe Covid-19 patients with hypoxaemia — when oxygen levels in the blood are too low.
“Some clinical studies show that up to a quarter of hospitalized (Covid-19) patients require oxygen therapy and upwards to two-thirds of those in intensive care units,” community health specialist Rajib Dasgupta told AFP.
“This is why it is imperative to fix oxygen supply systems in hos…
Keep on reading: India’s COVID-19 oxygen crisis: why is there a deadly crunch?