JAKARTA - The Executive Office of The President Staff Office (KSP) team found that the oxygen supply in Bandung regency, West Java, was still unable to meet the many requests of COVID-19 medical treatment. Oxygen traders and several health facilities in Bandung directly reported the dire situation to the KSP team.
“We visited several places in Bandung regency where the supply of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs was under control. Multivitamins and vaccines are sufficient. However, the regency is short of the oxygen supply,” said Abraham Wirotomo, KSP's Senior Advisor.
This situation was directly monitored by the KSP team on Tuesday (27/8). In addition to seeing the oxygen’s availability, the team also monitored the supply of vaccines and COVID-19 therapeutic drugs. The team also plans to visit other provinces in Java as well.
In responding to oxygen shortage in Bandung regency, Abraham said that the KSP team would think of a solution to this problem.
"KSP has coordinated with the West Java Oxygen Center to accelerate the procurement of medical oxygen for hospitals in the region," added Abraham.
Oxygen traders in Bandung Regency told the KSP team that oxygen shortages have occurred in the last 2 weeks, as the region struggles with the surge in COVID-19 cases.
"I have told the customers and I apologize because I have given up, in the sense that there is no oxygen supply and I can't do anything," said Irwan, one of the owners of an oxygen shop in Bandung.
According to Irwan, almost all oxygen traders in Bandung regency experienced the same thing, they were running out of oxygen stocks and found difficulties in meeting the demand, especially from COVID-19 patients.
"I have 8 oxygen outlets in Bandung and all of them had to be closed because there is no more oxygen supply," Irwan added. "There are two of my customers who have died from COVID-19 as they did not get the oxygen supply,".
Irwan who has been in the oxygen refill business for 5 years also admitted that there has been a spike in the price of oxygen cylinders and regulators since the pandemic occurred last year due to the number of requests that continue to increase sharply. Oxygen refills per 1 m3 which should be sold for Rp. 35,000 to Rp. 40,000 can be sold up to double by traders, explained Iwan.
However, according to him, nothing beats the fear over the oxygen shortage itself.
The oxygen shortage was also reported by the spokesperson of the Soreang Regional General Hospital (RSUD), in Bandung regency, Arif Rahman. "It's only oxygen that we're struggling with. There are relatively no problems with the bed and medicine," said Arif.
The same thing was conveyed by one of Kimia Farma Soreang's employees, who said that the oxygen supply has been empty for the last 2 weeks. Kimia Farma Soreang used to sell medical oxygen for Rp 40,000 per 1 m3.
Hanif Dahlan, the Head of the West Java Oxygen Center, has confirmed further coordination with KSP to meet the need of oxygen in Bandung regency. Hanif revealed that the Center would seek to accelerate the procurement of medical oxygen especially to fulfil the demand of COVID-19 referral hospitals.
Meanwhile, multivitamins and medicines in Bandung were reportedly still under control. Further, even though the vaccine stock was running low, it was still considered sufficient.
The KSP team will continue the official visits to Central Java - as part of the 7-days verification program initiated by the office to solve problems that hinder the distribution of medical oxygen, anti-COVID-19 medicines and COVID-19 vaccines to the public.
