IN an incident that can only be described as a terrible but avoidable tragedy, six under-treatment Covid-19 patients lost their lives due to the unavailability of oxygen at a major Peshawar hospital. In the early hours of Sunday, Covid-19 patients had to be shifted to other hospitals when the daily supply of oxygen was disrupted. Sadly, three men and three women aged between 45 and 65 years did not survive. Their deaths have sparked public criticism about the level of preparedness of the provincial government in tackling the pandemic. The findings of an initial inquiry suggest a “system failure” and has resulted in the suspension of seven people. Clearly, the tragedy was a result of poor coordination and mismanagement, pointing to, as the preliminary report indicates, the failure of the hospital administration and, possibly, the oxygen suppliers at a critical time. The incident is a stark warning to hospital management teams everywhere in the country about the severe consequences of such lapses. The Pakistan Medical Association has urged the government to increase beds and other facilities for Covid-19 patients to prevent further tragedies, and said “we have repeatedly been making mistakes and have not learnt from past experiences”. The authorities must go deeper into the reasons for non-availability of oxygen supply to patients at a time when Covid-19 cases are rising and hospitals should be prepared.

The incident does not bode well for the weeks ahead. The national positivity rate is at a staggering 9.7pc. Social media is flooded with accounts of death, critically ill patients, slow recoveries and despair. The NCOC is reporting more patients on ventilators. After Karachi and Hyderabad, Abbottabad has emerged as the new Covid-19 hub. Yet, despite this terrifying and growing increase in cases, hospitalisations and deaths, the government appears to be sleepwalking its way into a disaster. Beyond the opposition’s potentially superspreading political rallies, other public gatherings such as congregational prayers, weddings, mass funerals and private functions are continuing unabated. The opposition, too, has failed the public by ignoring this dangerous second wave. Its approach to the pandemic is not simply irresponsible; it also borders on criminal negligence.

This reckless behaviour by our political leaders simply cannot continue. The government, which was celebrating its success during the first wave and basking in the early glory of its achievement, must find a practical way to stem the growing number of cases. It is, after all, in the province where the PTI holds power that this heartbreaking episode of deaths due to alleged mismanagement has occurred. The time for self-congratulation and blame games is over. Public anger against the incumbent government due to a myriad issues — such as inflation, unemployment, power and gas crises — is growing. A failure to prevent Pakistan from hurtling towards a Covid-19 disaster will really be the final straw.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2020