Prices of N95 masks have risen six times since March, when it was sold to the government for Rs 17, to the current Rs 42 while retail price is Rs 150. It is expected to rise again.
Prices of N95 masks used by medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to rise as inventory of raw materials required to make the item dwindles, manufacturers said.
The Centre at present pays Rs 42 per mask, while retail price is Rs 150; and could rise by Rs 10-20 apiece. This comes even as state health department officials raid masks factories as manufacturers “refused to cooperate” on fixed prices.
There is low supply of raw material required to manufacture N95 masks and current stocks are fast declining, India’s biggest mask manufacturers Taloja-based Magnum Health and Safety and Palghar-based Venus Safety told the Mumbai Mirror.
Imported technical textiles is the key raw material for N95 masks, but supplies from Germany and the United States has fallen, leaving them reliant on a single-source alternative – Japan, which will “likely be more expensive,” Mahesh Kudav, director, Venus Safety said, adding that existing stocks will last only 10 days, making the price rise “inevitable.”
He, however, pointed out that supplies and stocks of FFP2 masks – an effective alternative to N95 masks are ample and can be used instead. Raw materials for FFP2 masks are made in India and these are thus cheaper at around Rs 18 apiece, Kudav said.
Statements on the prices came as authorities raided Venus’ and Magnum’s factories after the two refused to share details or cost of manufacturing the equipment with the government.
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An official told the paper that prices of N95 masks have risen six times since March, when it was sold to the government for Rs 17, to the current Rs 42. They added that manufacturers’ refusal to cooperate has delayed fixing of a price ceiling.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
“Since the companies refused to share any details with us, we began surveying the factories on Thursday (September 3). We also asked the sales tax department to help us. Both the public health department and sales tax officials are part of the verification drive,” the official said.
The official added that the state had asked the Centre to keep regulating prices of masks and sanitisers but the items were removed from the list in June after which the Maharashtra public health department formed a committee in August.
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