Medical oxygen situation in Jamaica 'dismal', says medical doctor

 

A senior doctor has given a critical assessment of the medical oxygen situation in Jamaica which he has described as 'dismal'.

 

Dr. Kelvin Metalor, head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University Hospital of the West Indies, says the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the weaknesses in the health care system.

 

Dr. Metalor believes an urgent review is needed.

 

He has suggested that the country develop more oxygen plants locally.

 

Speaking Wednesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, Dr. Metalor said the plants can be located at 'Type A' and larger 'Type B' hospitals. 

 

"Also because some centres will have the capacity to make their own oxygen and to have in-house production, then whatever is being produced at the various plants that currently supply the entire island, will be sufficient to meet the need of everyone, so we are all not running through the same pathway," he reasoned.   

 

Dr. Metalor argued that the oxygen crisis could have been avoided with better planning. 

 

Last weekend, all public hospitals reported dangerously low levels of oxygen, with some running out of the life-saving gas.

 

Since then, several recommendations have been presented on how the country can improve its supply of oxygen.

 

IGL is Jamaica's sole supplier of medical oxygen.