A parliamentary committee has recommended the Union Health Ministry "audit deaths due to oxygen shortage", especially during the Covid second wave, in coordination with states to enable robust documentation of the mortalities. The committee said it was "disturbed" by the ministry's "unfortunate denial" of COVID-19 deaths due to oxygen shortage. "The ministry must meticulously examine the oxygen-stricken Covid deaths and ensure that proper compensation is accorded to the families of the victims," the panel said, adding it expected more transparency and accountability from government agencies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, in its 137th report presented to Rajya Sabha on 12 Septermber, 2022, said the increase in the number of Covid positive cases had put severe pressure on the health infrastructure.
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