Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has urged the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to ensure availability of N-95 masks and PPE kits at a reasonable rate in order to not overcharge for these items.
With an alarming case of COVID-19 which has crossed the 27,000-mark on Thursday, May 15, 2020, the demand for N95 masks and PPE has also increased. The PPE masks available in the markets have doubly increased their prices during the crisis. Some are even manufacturing fake PPE masks with false certifications. Overnight, hundreds of manufactures have come into being selling substandard masks that have surfaced as a result of an absence of clear specifications or inadequate monitoring by the government.
Before the coronavirus hit the country, N95 masks were priced at Rs. 45 per piece which has now increased to anywhere between Rs. 200 to 1000. This massive increase in price rates has made it difficult for people to get their hands on the masks, especially the health workers and people dealing with COVID-19 patients who need to alternate their masks frequently. The ministry of consumer affairs had regulated the prices back in March, however, the prices of the masks were not capped. In the absence of a capped price, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff workers, patients, everyone is required to pay a higher price which can be made affordable.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become an important and emotive subject during the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. There are two main issues relating to PPE: shortages of equipment and inappropriate use of equipment. The N95 designation in masks means that under test conditions (certified under 42 CFR 84 of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the United States CDC), the respirator blocks at least 95% of solid and liquid aerosol test particles which further stops the spread of the contagious coronavirus. Hence, it is crucial to realize that along with the unnecessary decrease in prices of the N95 masks, people should not hoard them either as these masks are absolutely crucial for the ones working in the health industry.
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