Bhubaneswar: The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) for the Southern Division of Odisha has ordered an investigation into the incident of two newborns being administered oxygen from a single cylinder at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
According to reports, the two newborns, a 14-day-old girl from Badpada village under Nuagada block in Gajapati district and an 8-day-old boy from Padadigi village under Patrapur block in Gajapati district, were being treated at the hospital. Due to a shortage of oxygen cylinders, medical staff resorted to using a single cylinder to provide oxygen to both babies through a Y-connector.
The incident has sparked criticism about the hospital’s management and the potential risks associated with such practices. The Revenue Commissioner’s office has stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and that action will be taken based on the findings.
The superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Professor Dr Durgamadhab Satapathy, has expressed displeasure over the practice of administering oxygen to multiple newborns from a single cylinder. Following the incident where two newborns were given oxygen from one cylinder, Dr Satapathy strictly instructed the pediatric department to refrain from such practices in the future.
Satapathy clarified that while the oxygen levels of both infants were similar in this instance, it is still unacceptable to use one oxygen cylinder for multiple patients. He emphasised that the hospital will take all necessary measures to ensure patient safety and prevent such incidents from recurring.
Notably, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred at the hospital. In 2022, a similar incident involving three infants led to the formation of an investigation committee to probe the matter.
