Covid care devices may see shortage and prices rise: Report

Critical home care equipment like oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters might face severe shortage in the next seven days.

Most of these products are imported from China and Hong Kong but companies complained about last minute cancellation of cargo flights causing a delay in arrival of new consignments, according to a report in The Economic Times.

Profiteering by manufacturing companies as well as Chinese logistics and economic loss to cargo flights were listed as the top reasons for current disruption. Most cargo flights return to China empty as export businesses in India are shut due to the ongoing pandemic.

Another reason could be China’s extended holiday period – Labour Day (May 1 to May 5) – which is expected to cause further delay in the arrival of foreign consignments in the next few days. However, things are expected to gain some pace post this holiday season.

Increased demand will only cause the rate of Covid care device to rise even further. Oxygen concentrators, riding high on demand, may witness a hike of Rs 8,000 to Rs 15,000. It usually costs around Rs 40,000 – Rs 60,000.

Logistical costs

Even freight rates have reportedly doubled after cancellation of a significant number of cargo flights from China. Now, according to many Indian exporters, logistics companies are demanding almost double rates for already signed orders too.

“We fear these are done by opportunistic logistic agents in China who are trying to create a shortage scenario by cancelling flights at the last moment to jack up prices,” Sunil Khurana, CEO of BPL Medical Technologies was quoted as saying in the report.

India’s current medical situation is no secret to the world. Domestic businesses are shut while demand for medical equipment is on an all time high. International cargo flights are wary of the situation and don’t want to bear any losses on return trips.