Bhubaneswar resorts to panic buying of medical equipment, vitamins

Buyers at a chemist store in city

BHUBANESWAR: Demand for medical equipment has hit the roof, said pharmacies here, as people have gone on a panic buying spree picking up anything and everything related to Covid-19 prevention and cure like oximeters, oxygen cans and steam inhalers. Vitamin C, D and Zinc tablets are also flying off racks. The sudden surge in demand for both medicines and equipment has resulted in a scarcity of these products, they said.
“Television news is full of images of people suffering and dying. The way the infection is spreading, no one knows whose turn would be next. It is better to be prepared with equipment and medicines because if one member falls ill in the family, others can immediately give him medical support,” said Pitambar Sahu, a businessman, who bought an oximeter and an oxygen can.
“Last year people used to buy masks, sanitisers and thermometers in large quantities but in the second wave the demand for oximeter and oxygen cans has gone up. I sold as many as 60 oximeters in the last three days and nearly 50 oxygen cans in one week,” said Prakash Sahu, a wholesale medicine equipment seller in the city.
“The stock of oximeters got exhausted in the last two days. We have placed orders for more. But these products are supplied from Delhi and Bangalore, where the Covid-19 situation is very bad and there is little hope of getting any consignment soon,” said Prasant Mohapatra, a medicine and medical equipment supplier.
The price of an oximeter starts from Rs 2,000 and goes up to Rs 5,000 while a 12-litre capacity oxygen can costs Rs 700, which cannot be refilled. Price of infrared thermometers is starting from Rs 700, while steam inhalers are available at Rs 300 per piece.
Odisha has been recording over 6,000 cases for the last four days causing panic among people.
Apart from medical equipment, people have also started buying sanitisers, vitamin C, D, Zinc and Azithromycin tablets leading to their shortage in the market. A large number of customers are buying these medicines without proper prescription from any physician. This is leading to a shortage of these medicines, said Sahu.
After the medicines went off shelves, people resorted to online buying. “I ordered two steam inhalers and one oximeter online after I did not find them in five to six medicine stores in the city. But the stocks are exhausting there also,” said Prerana Das, an MBA student.

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