LBH Highlights Oxygen Shortage in Bali Leading to Deaths, Delayed Operation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bali Legal Aid Institute (LBH) received reports of oxygen supply shortage in Bali. The LBH Bali Representative, Felix JW, said the provincial health agency also acknowledged the issue.

“In the last few weeks, the oxygen supply demand in Bali increased to 400 percent,” said Felix in a press conference with more than 100 civil society organizations on Sunday, July 25.

Felix said the oxygen supply demand on July 22 reached 113 tons, but there was only about 40 tons of available oxygen supply or less than half of what was needed. According to him, many hospitals in Bali had postponed scheduled operations due to oxygen supply scarcity.

A patient's family at a hospital in Tabanan also reported to LBH that five patients died due to a lack of oxygen on July 24. There were also reports that patients were given different drugs which led to their death. The hospital has not yet provided an explanation.

Based on the 1945 Constitution, all the issues are the responsibility of the government, Felix asserted. Article 28h paragraph (1) notes that everyone has the right to health services and the Article 34 stipulates that the state is responsible for providing health services.

“Until now, the government has only resolved existing problems, not taking preventive steps,” Felix said.

LBH Bali in collaboration with the Student Executive Board (BEM) throughout Bali thus opened a Covid-19 Command Post via their website.

Read: Jokowi: Gotong Royong Oxygen House is Much Needed to Help COVID-19 Handling

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI | ANTARA