The Board of Governors (BoG) at the Kyber Teaching Hospital (KHT) in Peshawar, on Monday, has decided to suspend multiple staff members including Dr Tahir Nadeem Khan, Director MTI KHT, Mr Tahir Shahzad, Facility Manager KHT, Mr Ali Waqas, Manager Supply Chain KHT, and others.

The decision was made after an inquiry was made into the tragic accident that took place at KH. According to the details, six COVID-19 positive patients died in KTH, on Saturday, due to a shortage of oxygen cylinders.

As per the preliminary facts finding report:

1. MTI KHT has an oxygen storage tank of 10000 cubic meters of capacity. There is no backup system for oxygen supply as recommended by the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM). Ideally, there should be either a primary backup (another tank) or secondary backup (manifold)
2. MTI KHT has awarded a contract to "Ms Pakistan Oxygen Limited" (formerly Linde Pakistan Limited) vide office order no 3996/KTH/Pharm, dated 11.02.2015. According to the telephonic statement of the supply chain manager the service contract had expired 30.06.2017. No office order regarding the renewal/extension of the contract is available in the record provided by the manager pharmacy. The manager supply chain telephonically confirmed extension till 30.06.2020 only
3. The staff working in the oxygen plant lack proper technical skills and training
4. There was no organized emergency rescue squad in the hospital as required for disaster management under such conditions
5. The facility's management failed to supervise and report the services of the staff deputed in the oxygen plant
6. There is no ownership of the oxygen plant by manager pharmacy, facilities manager, biomedical engineer, and supply chain manager

The report also mentions that the pressure at the plant at the time was zero according to the pressure gauge reading. The report said the oxygen plant assistant failed to perform his duty as he is responsible for the oxygen plant and has a liaison with the supplier.

At the time of the incident, there were 90 patients at the hospital, 20 on BiPAP, two on ventilators, and the remaining on mask oxygen. The hospital ordered 13 patients to be shifted to the accident and emergency department where backup supply in the form of the manifold was available and the remaining patients were put on cylinder oxygen supply, revealed the report.

The Finance and Health Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa Taimur Khan Jhagra had taken the notice of the incident and shared that an immediate inquiry will be conducted. In a Tweet, he said:

"There was an incident at KTH last night involving a shortage of oxygen supply. I have directed the BoG to conduct an immediate inquiry & take action within 48 hours. If found unsatisfactory, or if otherwise required, the govt will immediately order its own independent inquiry."