Vijayawada: Refillers of medical oxygen are cashing in on the big need for oxygen and are charging the Coronavirus-infected patients heftily in several parts in the state.The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) repaired the maximum price (ex-factory) of liquid medical oxygen at Rs 15.22 per cubic meter and medical oxygen in cylinder at Rs 25.71 per cubic meter excluding 12 percent GST in its order released on September 25, 2020, and it will be in force until further orders.
As the state is experiencing the raging of Coronavirus infections, the contaminated patients are rushing to federal government and personal medical facilities, which are either Aarogyasri-empanelled or allowed, to take treatment.
Though the big government and private medical facilities have inbuilt medical oxygen filling plants or storage rooms for bulk cylinders and have pipeline connectivity to the beds in ICU wards, some do not have such facilities and the stocks are getting exhausted in no time.
These medical facilities are forcing the kin of patients to get medical oxygen in cylinders on their own.
When the latter rush to local refillers, they are charging inflated rates, taking advantage of the scenario.
A medical oxygen refiller in Vijayawada is charging Rs 65 per cubic meter, while another is demanding Rs 95 per cubic meter.
Apart from it, they are also charging for transportation of filled-in cylinders to hospitals and for return of empty cylinders.
Contributing to it is an additional levy of GST at 12 per cent.
The refillers are taking every safety measure to prevent detection by the police by mentioning just statutory price in the invoices and small quantity for handling and transport charges.A refiller took Rs 7,000 as an advance deposit for the concern of a portable medical oxygen cylinder of one cubic meter capability and charged a leasing of Rs 300 each day in the city.
A maternity health center in Patamata is stated to have stocked numerous medical oxygen cylinders.
Some people staying in house quarantine are likewise keeping medical oxygen cylinders at their houses for future usage by paying whatever is demanded from the refillers.
It is the case in numerous parts of the state, which is developing substantial demand and supply gaps.
Andhra Pradesh is set aside medical oxygen to the tune of 480 tonnes per day by the centre.
The cryogenic tankers bring liquid medical oxygen acquired from Angul in Odisha, Sriperumbudur, Bellary and parts in Visakhapatnam, reach the in-built filling plants in the hospitals straight.
The liquid oxygen becomes gaseous kind during supply into pipelines linked to the beds as the health center authorities fix specific devices for the function and pressure is kept track of through valves and gauges.A medical professional at Vijayawada federal government hospital, B.
Nirmal Kumar, said, If oxygen saturation level falls down below 94 percent for any patient, we start offering medical oxygen from the level of 2 litres and it goes on as per requirement until the client improves his levels.
It might take even days to offer oxygen supply to the patient based upon his health condition.
A senior authorities of Drugs Control Administration (DCA) stated, We are keeping close tabs on supply of medical oxygen at statutory price and individuals are recommended not to hoard cylinders for future use as it is leading to some refillers charging more.
We will start action versus such refillers according to standards.