Jalandhar | In the wake of a tragic oxygen supply disruption that led to the deaths of three critically ill patients at Jalandhar Civil Hospital, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has ordered the suspension of three senior doctors and the dismissal of a house surgeon, citing gross negligence and dereliction of duty.
Unpardonable Negligence in Trauma Ward: Health Minister
The incident occurred in the Trauma Ward of the Civil Hospital last week, when a technical failure in the hospital’s oxygen plant caused a sudden drop in oxygen levels. Despite having adequate backup infrastructure in place, the hospital failed to maintain the oxygen supply, leading to the deaths of three ICU patients.
“This is an unpardonable act,” said Dr. Singh while addressing the media. “There will be exemplary punishment for this administrative failure.”
Officials Suspended, Inquiry Underway
The suspended personnel include the Medical Superintendent, Senior Medical Officer, and Consultant Anesthetist. A detailed inquiry has been initiated, and removal from service with forfeiture of all benefits is under consideration.
As per Tribune India, the Health Minister confirmed:
“All three doctors have been placed under suspension. A detailed inquiry is underway and they are likely to be dismissed.”
The House Surgeon has already been terminated from service for reportedly leaving the hospital without permission. His absence coincided with the technical fault, worsening the situation and delaying emergency response.
Hospital Had Backup—But No One Acted
According to the minister, preliminary investigations revealed that the hospital had robust oxygen infrastructure, including:
- A Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant with dual compressors
- A manifold system with 18–20 cylinders
- A liquid medical oxygen plant as additional backup
Despite this, irresponsible handling and poor monitoring led to a fatal drop in oxygen pressure, severely affecting critical patients.
Dr. Singh expressed anguish over the incident:
“When I got the news, I was extremely upset and rushed to the hospital. This was an administrative collapse despite having more than enough medical personnel.”
No Shortage of Staff or Resources
The minister dismissed any shortage of manpower or infrastructure as a cause. The Civil Hospital reportedly has:
- 49 Internal Medical Officers
- 46 DNB doctors
- 14 House Surgeons
- 17 Medical Officers
“This is enough to ensure one doctor per bed. What happened was pure negligence,” he stated.
Statewide Directives Issued to Prevent Recurrence
In response, the Health Minister has issued strict instructions to all government hospitals to ensure:
- Round-the-clock oxygen availability
- Functional UPS systems with at least 30 minutes of backup
- Operational generator sets for critical care units, including ICUs, emergency wards, and operation theatres
“There will be no tolerance for such lapses. Healthcare is a priority for our government, and there is no shortage of funds,” Dr. Singh affirmed.
