Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Cloudy Oxygen Humidifier Water Sparks Safety Probe At Beed Hospital
A hospital patient needed extra oxygen while being taken for a test.
People noticed that the water in the oxygen machine looked very cloudy.
Staff threw away the water and changed the machine.
Experts say oxygen humidifiers should use sterile water and be kept very clean.
Dirty equipment could allow germs to reach a patient’s lungs.
An activist has asked officials to investigate what happened.
He wants the water and equipment tested.
The hospital has also faced another allegation involving surgery materials left inside a patient.
Cloudy water was allegedly found in an oxygen humidifier used for a semi-ICU patient at Beed District Hospital.
The patient developed respiratory distress while being transported for a sonography examination and received oxygen through a mask.
Hospital staff discarded the discoloured water and replaced the humidifier unit after attendants objected.
Activist Dr Ganesh Dhawale asked for an inquiry into infection control, water quality and equipment maintenance.
The complaint seeks microbiological water testing, inspections of oxygen equipment, sanitation-log audits and disciplinary action for any procedural lapses.
- Who
- A semi-ICU patient, hospital staff, attendants and activist Dr Ganesh Dhawale are central to the report; Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and District Guardian Minister Sunetra Pawar received the complaint.
- What
- Cloudy, heavily discoloured water was allegedly found in an oxygen humidifier, prompting demands for an investigation into hospital safety procedures.
- When
- The incident occurred recently; the complaint also refers to another alleged negligence case reported days earlier.
- Where
- Beed District Hospital, in Beed; the earlier case involved a patient from Wadwani.
- Why
- The complaint says contaminated water or inadequately disinfected equipment could expose critically ill patients to harmful microbes.
- Facility
- Beed District Hospital
- Ward
- Semi-ICU
- Equipment involved
- Oxygen humidifier bottle and oxygen-delivery apparatus
- Immediate response
- Staff discarded the water and replaced the humidifier unit
- Complaint filed by
- Social activist Dr Ganesh Dhawale
- Officials approached
- Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and District Guardian Minister Sunetra Pawar
- Requested actions
- Microbiological testing, equipment inspection, sanitation-log audit and disciplinary action where warranted