N95 masks go out of stock

The masks, which were sold at exorbitant prices, are out of stock following mass demand; medical stores sell sub-standard masks insteadu00a0u00a0

Medical stores in the city are making a killing by selling sub-standard masks at exorbitant prices.

MiD DAY began its investigative journey at Keep Fit Medical Store at Salunke Vihar Road, which has three types of masks available; two simple surgical samples priced at Rs 10 and the other a yellow double layered cloth mask for Rs 20.
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Stock over
The last stock of N95, the only one that is said to provide adequate protection against swine flu, was sold yesterday morning for Rs 150 each, said the shop assistant. "We don't know when fresh stock will arrive.

Maybe, this evening, and I can't say what the price will be. It could be Rs 250 or even Rs 350!" he said.

Another medical outlet at Tilak Road, Arvind Medical, was selling simple surgical masks for Rs 15, and the yellow double layered cloth mask for Rs 25, while N95 masks were out of stock. The shop assistant said, "These masks come from Kolkata and the flight got cancelled. Kal tak ayega." At Kuber Pharmacy in Parvati, simple surgical samples was priced at Rs 10 and the yellow double-layered cloth mask was sold for Rs 30.

State pharmacy council member, Bachu Oswal said, "N95 masks are manufactured by Romson, 3M and Venus and their MRP varies from Rs 90 to Rs 300. We have run out ofu00a0 stock. Since the masks are available in bulk quantity and come in packs of 100 or 1,000, the MRP is mentioned on the pack and not on each piece. So it may be that some people are taking undue advantage of this and charging people more," said Oswal.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) President Dr Dilip Sarda said, "The N95 masks were available for anything between Rs 90 to Rs 110. We know the masks are being sold at exorbitant prices. We have appealed to the state to provide 12,000 N95 masks to private practitioners because they are screening hundreds of patients every day. We have also asked them to provide other types of masks to IMA so people can buy them easily."