Lokmat news network
Nagpur, April 22
Due to rise in corona infection cases and non-availability of beds in the hospital, lot of patients are home isolated and are using oxygen concentrator at home. The price of oxygen concentrator have doubled and rentals have also gone beyond reach of many.
There is no fresh supply of machines, as companies are closed and no new machines are being manufactured. So, if one has to rent a machine, they have to pay double the charge, adding to the woes of patients in home isolation.
Many patients with relatively low oxygen requirement are home quarantined due to unavailability of beds in the hospital. Since oxygen cylinders are not available, medical experts are advising to use oxygen concentrator. It is sold by many distributors in the city and is also leased on a monthly basis. But for the last one and a half months, there has been a shortage in the market.
Stocks from Mumbai or other states have stopped coming. So new machines are not available for sale. Goods from some foreign companies are likely to arrive. But its rates are also very high.
Hard to find oxygen
concentrator on rent
Many distributors and surgical equipment suppliers rent out concentrator to patients, but now most of them are struggling due to unavailability of concentrator, as cases have gone beyond imagination. However, there is a waiting list for booking. The average monthly rent was `6,000 thousand, which has now gone up to more than `15,000.
Many patients had rented the machines and now they are being used for their relatives. So new patients have to wait. Some NGOs have taken the initiative to provide machines. However, their number is limited. When distributor Mohan Tawade, was contacted in this regards, he clarified that there is no stock in the market and said that it will continue till stock arrives from China or Taiwan. A five liter machine use to cost around `25,000, now the rates have gone up to `55,000. Hundreds of calls come in as we rent machines every day. However, we are also helpless due to lack of stocks, he explained.
What is oxygen concentrator
Oxygen concentrator uses PSA (pressure swing absorption) technique and absorbs ambient air. Nitrogen is separated from it and oxygen is formed in this process. Generally, patients who require less than five liters of oxygen are advised by medical experts to use this machine. What is unique is that it does not require frequent refilling of oxygen.