To keep tabs on the prices of pulse pximeter and oxygen concentrators which are being sold in the black market in the Covid-19 times, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed all manufacturers/importers of these two medical devices to submit maximum retail price (MRP) by May 22.
According to various reports, amid the second wave of the pandemic sweeping across the country, an oxygen concentrator that normally costs about Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 is now being sold for a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh in the black market while oximeters, that indicate the level of oxygen in an individual’s body, are being sold at a price range between Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,000 which is about three to four times the MRP of the device.
Oxygen Concentrator is a device that sucks oxygen from the atmosphere and delivers it to a person suffering from respiratory illness. It is a life-saving instrument meant for home use by those Covid-19 patients whose oxygen saturation dips below 80 mm Hg. Expressing displeasure at the government’s failure to curb the prices, the Delhi High Court had in fact just a few days ago had asked the Centre and the Delhi government why a notification under the Essential Commodities Act has not yet been issued to classify concentrators as “essential commodities.” The NPPA action is likely to stop the black marketing.
“This notice is in reference to the Gazette Notification dated March 31, 2020 issued by NPPA for regulation of medical devices under DPCO-2013 read with Essential Commodities (EC) Act, 1955 with effect from April 1, 2020. Accordingly, MRP of medical devices cannot be increased more than ten per cent (10%) in a year,” said an NPPA official.
“In view of the above, all manufacturers or importers of aforesaid medical devices have been advised to ensure compliance of the provisions of Para 20 of the DPCO, 2013 failing which action may be initiated for violation of provisions of DPCO, 2013 read with EC Act, 1955,” he said about the NPPA order.
“Medical devices industry associations of Pulse Oximeter and Oxygen Concentrator namely MTaI, AiMeD, CII, FICCI, USIBC, AMCHAM, AdvaMed are hereby directed to disseminate this office memorandum among its member companies and shall ensure compliance of the same,” NPPA said in the notice.
