PUNJAB GOVERNMENT : Reacting strongly to a tragic incident at Jalandhar Civil Hospital, where a disruption in oxygen supply led to the death of three critically ill patients, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced strict disciplinary action on Wednesday.
Three senior doctors — Medical Superintendent Raj Kumar, Senior Medical Officer Surjeet Singh, and Consultant Anesthetist Dr. Sonakshi — have been suspended, and are likely to face dismissal without service benefits, pending an inquiry. House Surgeon Dr. Shaminder Singh has been terminated immediately for gross negligence.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening, was reportedly caused by a technical fault in the hospital’s oxygen plant. Despite the facility being equipped with multiple oxygen sources — including a PSA oxygen plant with dual compressors, a manifold system with 18–20 cylinders, and a liquid oxygen plant — careless handling by the staff led to a fatal drop in oxygen pressure.
Dr. Balbir Singh stated that the hospital had adequate medical staff, including 49 internal medical officers, 46 DNB doctors, 14 house surgeons, and 17 medical officers — more than enough to ensure proper care. He described the failure as a result of purely administrative negligence, not resource shortage.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy on medical negligence, the Health Minister emphasized that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal have made healthcare and education top priorities, and there is no shortage of funding in these sectors.
To prevent future incidents, Dr. Balbir Singh has directed all government hospitals to ensure round-the-clock oxygen availability, functional UPS systems with at least 30 minutes backup, and fully operational generators for critical equipment. He warned that no lapses will be tolerated, especially in intensive care, operation theatres, and emergency wards.