Zayed: Sufficient Stocks of Medical Oxygen in Egypt's National Hospitals

On Sunday, Egyptian Minister of Health Dr. Hala Zayed, confirmed that sufficient stocks of medical oxygen gas are available in all hospitals nationwide that receive coronavirus-infected patients, noting that the state spares no effort to preserve the health of citizens in light of the face of coronavirus pandemic.

On his part, Dr. Khaled Mujahid, advisor to the Health Minister for Media Affairs and the ministry's official spokesperson, stated that, based on the reports of the central committee that was formed upon orders from the Health Minister over the death of 4 coronavirus-infected patients in Al Husseiniya Central Hospital in Sharqeya governorate.

The four patients died due to chronic diseases not the shortage of oxygen. “Oxygen is available in the hospital.

“Only four cases were on ventilators. The death was natural as a result of the deterioration of their condition because of the infection with the Coronavirus and their chronic diseases,” Mujahid said in a statement.

Mujahid added that the hospital’s gases network is operating with high efficiency, as the tank yesterday contained 500 liters of medical oxygen gas, in addition to a reserve gas network in the hospital connected to 24 medical oxygen cylinders.

He noted that there are 45 oxygen cylinders as a strategic stock in the hospital, adding that all the hospital departments are fully functional and all patients are receiving necessary medical care.

Meanwhile, the public prosecution has opened another investigation into the death of two COVID-19 patients at the Zifta public hospital in Gharbeya governorate last Friday, also allegedly due to the shortage of oxygen. The prosecution accused the hospital as being responsible for the negligence.

Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed said in televised statements, on Saturday, that a committee from the ministry is investigating the incident.

She affirmed that there is no shortage of oxygen supply at hospitals.

Notably, a Video was widely circulated on social media from inside Al Husseiniya Central Hospital, showing a number of Coronavirus patients lying dead in the intensive care unit, while witness sound tells it happened because of oxygen shortage.

The governor said: “A technical committee was formed as soon as the video appeared, and I went to the hospital to see it all myself, and by examination, it was clear that 4 Coronavirus patients died as they were suffering from chronic diseases.”