Cong seeks judicial probe into use of Dhaman-1 ventilators in Guj, says not certified by DCGI


PTI, May 23, 2020, 8:17 PM IST

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday demanded a judicial probe into the use of a ventilator on COVID-19 patients in Gujarat that, it said, has not been approved by the DCGI, alleging the mortality rate was highest at the hospital these machines were installed.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said almost six weeks after Dhaman-1 ventilators were installed at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on April 4, doctors there sought more ventilators claiming these machines did not work on patients and were not capable.

The Dhaman-1 ventilator has been developed by Rajkot-based firm Jyoti CNC which “donated” 866 of them to the state government last month in view of acute shortage of the machines, according to senior Gujarat government official.

A row erupted when the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital wrote to the government, stating that the ventilators were not up to the mark, and sought sophisticated machines.

The senior official, however, sought to put the controversy to rest, saying Dhaman-1 was “as good as other such machines” and was certified by a Centrally accredited laboratory.

On Saturday, Khera alleged the Vijay Rupani government projected the mechanised AMBU (Artificial Manual Breathing Unit) bag as ventilator, “playing with the lives of patients”.

“Why was Dhaman-1 approved and installed when it had been tested on just one patient? Why was Dhaman-1 approved and installed without a licence by DCGI (Drug Controller General of India),” he asked.

“We also want to know if the PM Cares Fund was used to buy 5,000 pieces of Dhaman-1 through HLL Lifecare. All these answers can only be found through an independent judicial inquiry,” Khera said.

Training his guns on Chief Minister Rupani, he asked why Gujarat had “such shocking data” on COVID-19 patients as 11 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country were in the state, but 22 per cent of the deaths related to COVID-19 in the country were from Gujarat.

“Why this high mortality, Why the high mortality in Ahmedabad in particular and in Ahmedabad, why the highest mortality is in the civil hospital, where these machines were installed,” he asked.

“Whatever be your compulsions, Mr Rupani, we understand there are compulsions. But you cannot play with the lives of the people, just because you are in a position of power,” he alleged.

He alleged the machines were donated under CSR funds by a company in which a Surat-based businessman, who donated the monogrammed suit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was worn by him during former US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, has a stake.

He asked why Dhaman-1 was marketed within and outside the state as a “ventilator when it is not a ventilator”.

The Congress leader asked why was Dhaman-1 allowed to be sold to other states and why was HLL Lifecare, a PSU, allowed to order 5,000 pieces.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

SC notice to Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on CBI plea against withdrawal of consent by state govt

Will remain active in politics till my last breath: JD(S) patriarch & ex-PM Deve Gowda

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

World Bunts Summit to be held in Mumbai on December 7

SC dismisses PIL seeking CBI probe into Tirupati laddus row

Salman Khan gets another threat; message sent to Mumbai traffic police helpline

Related Articles More

Akhilesh Yadav attacks BJP on demonetisation anniversary

DeMo paved way for monopolies by devastating MSMEs, informal sector: Rahul on note ban anniversary

Comply with order allowing minority student to attend St Stephen’s College: HC tells DU

INDIA bloc looted, destroyed Jharkhand: Dharmendra Pradhan

Gujarat family holds burial event for ‘lucky’ car; 1,500 people attend

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Neeraj Chopra to head to South Africa for off-season training later this month

Sensex, Nifty fall for 2nd day on FII selling; RIL, ICICI Bank major drag

Akhilesh Yadav attacks BJP on demonetisation anniversary

SC notice to Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on CBI plea against withdrawal of consent by state govt

DeMo paved way for monopolies by devastating MSMEs, informal sector: Rahul on note ban anniversary

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.