Bhopal, Aug 20 (Inditop.com) Swine flu masks have been selling like hot cakes in Madhya Pradesh though there has not been a single positive case in the state so far. While many shops have no stock, others are selling at twice or thrice the usual price.
“Sub-dealers here are on an average getting orders for about 10,000 masks each daily which they are unable to meet. They have placed orders to the distributors in Indore and Delhi but are not getting the supplies,” Naresh Motwani, a sub-dealer of medical supplies, told Inditop.
“The result is that the normal disposable masks, usually costing around Rs.5-10 per piece, are now available (wherever they are) for Rs.20-30 or even more,” said Anshumali Joshi, owner of a medical store in Bhopal.
“Similarly, N-94 masks which usually cost Rs.130 each are being sold at Rs.200-250 and N-95 masks are not available at any cost,” he added.
“The surgical masks come from Mumbai and due to heavy demand in Mumbai itself there has been no supply of these masks here. There are many types of face masks like single and three-layered masks. Among them N-95 masks are the safest and considered to be the best in keeping swine flu at bay. But owing to its high demand in other affected areas, N-95 masks have not reached the city yet,” a chemist said.
“In fact N-95 masks have never been available in the markets of Bhopal, Indore or Jabalpur, but some of the shopkeepers have been selling N-94 masks in the guise of N-95 and people who do not have much idea about the genuine one have been purchasing them,” said a sub-dealer who preferred to remain anonymous.
Experts say the ordinary masks are not of much use as they do not filter small particles that carry the virus.
“The demand for the masks, apparently due to the panic button pressed by the media, especially the TV channels, has increased manifold in the past four to five days. I alone have sold six months’ stock in just three days and am waiting for more supplies from Delhi,” Motwani said.
“Several people who cannot afford costly masks or who do not have any idea about the variations in quality are using normal disposable masks for three to four days which is more harmful than not using the mask at all,” feels Ajay Goenka, a leading physician here.
“Though no case of swine flu has been detected in Indore, people are purchasing masks,” said Makrand Sharma of Kwality Drug House — a leading wholesale chemist.
He added that “around 2,000-4,000 masks were initially sold in the city every day. Now they are not available at most shops and some of the shopkeepers were even reported to be selling them at a higher price.”
The masks are available for a retail price of around Rs.100 each and the price might go up further as the demand rises and stocks dwindle, Sharma said.
